After a few moments of looking at the landscape I turned my attention to the men in front of me and studied the face and jaw line of the man closest to me, admiring how perfect his skin and features were. My next memory came after my life review. I don't remember the review itself, only that it was somehow projected in front of me and the 2 men who I came to know as my spirit guides. My memory comes back immediately after the life review, I clearly remember turning to my left towards my spirit guides feeling very embarrassed and ashamed with myself based on my life review. I was afraid they would also be ashamed of me but was surprised that they hadn't judged me at all. I knew at that moment that my guides knew everything about me, every thought I ever had, and they still loved me completely and unconditionally with no judgment. Next I remember having what I can only describe as having knowledge downloaded to me. I don't remember what the knowledge encompassed, only that as I was having this knowledge "downloaded" to me I thought how easy it was, no school to attend or life experiences, just pure knowledge. It quickly became a heavy feeling however and the more knowledge I received the "heavier" I felt until I thought I couldn't handle any more and at that moment it stopped.

Next I was in a meadow with some trees and a beautiful stream running through the trees. It was here that my guides told me that they had brought me here because there was a decision in my life that they wanted me to make. They told me that they each had their individual ideas as to the direction my life should take but they wanted me to make the final decision. I was told that everything would work out as it was supposed to regardless of my decision. They told me (I'm paraphrasing because I don't remember the exact words they used, they spoke much more elegantly than I am here.) that at a later date a woman would come into my life and the decision I needed to make was whether we would fall in love and be married or would I let her go, in which case she would fall in love with and marry another man. At that moment I knew who both the woman and the other man were but forgot when the experience was over. They told me I had some time to think about it so I went over to the stream to think. I don't recall what it was about that stream but it was mesmerizing. After a time I was so caught up in the stream that I had forgotten that my guides were waiting for my answer so I quickly turned to face them but before I was able to turn I heard one of my guides tell me to take my time and enjoy it, in a loving manner. Shortly thereafter I did return to my guides and told them that I had decided that the woman in my future should be with the other man. (I felt it would be selfish to decide otherwise) They asked if I was certain and I clearly remember telling them "yes, I can handle the pain". The pain of not having her in my life.

A man then came quickly from the distance to talk to my guides about something. I was a short distance away and do not know what they were talking about but I had a vague memory of this man. I knew that we had been close long ago but as hard as I tried I couldn't remember who he was or how exactly I knew him. When he was done talking to my guides, I introduced myself and he was very happy to see me. We talked briefly but I don't recall what about. When he had left was when I saw the most incredible flower garden in the distance. The colors were brilliant and so vivid. I was so struck by this garden that I had to go see it up close and quickly did so. When I got to the garden I leaned over the flowers (for some reason I was curious to see what kind of soil they were growing in to produce such a garden) to see them up close and was stunned to find that not only were they stunningly beautiful but they had souls. I can't remember how I knew that but it was obvious at the time. They were radiant, unlike anything I could have imagined, and the colors were unbelievable. There were even a handful of colors that we don't have here on earth although I can't picture or describe them now. After a short time with the flowers I knew that I had to leave that place and return so I stood and stared at the garden trying my hardest to imprint that image in my mind so I would never forget, and so that I could maybe tell someone else about it someday. Then I turned away towards an open field and realized I didn't know how to come back to earth. My last memory in that place was thinking to myself that I needed someone to show me how to return. Then I was back, and realized that I had never noticed before how much effort it takes simply to take a breath, it was always so automatic, now it required effort. And my body suddenly felt like wet clay after moving so effortlessly on the other side.

I have a question- in your experience you became aware that a women would come into your life, and you needed to decide if you would fall in love with her or let her go.  Are you aware of such a women who has come into your life?  Thanks!

Best regards,

-Jeffrey Long, MD

     First, I would like to thank you for the work you are doing. It is not only important that people know this is a real experience and place, but it is also the first time I have ever felt I could share my story without being ridiculed. I have wanted to tell someone about my experience for 30 years but didn't feel anyone would believe me. As for your question, I am still single, never married, but I did meet a woman about 13 years ago that might have been the "one". I think this because from the moment I saw her she not only stood out (literally in a crowd), but did seem familiar. She introduced herself and we became and stayed friends for roughly 3 years. She was different in that almost every time I saw her I was incredibly nervous, sometimes literally shaking. Not the typical jitters. I was very attracted to her and had asked her out a few times and she politely declined, which was fine, but it was odd in that, although she wasn't interested in dating, she was extremely jealous and possessive of me throughout our friendship. She ended up getting married fairly suddenly and we went our separate ways (with no hard feelings), but when I have run into her over the years she still has a look of pain on her face when she sees me, and often has to leave if we are at the same event because she gets upset. As for me, it took years to get over her. I think of her every day and miss her very much. I wish I could give you a more definitive answer but there were some things in my experience that I just can't recall, and the identity of the woman I would meet is among them, although it was perfectly clear while in the experience. Also I don't know how clearly I expressed myself in the original questionnaire so I'll try again. When my "guides" asked me to decide whether she would be with me or the other man, it was clear that once I made my decision, they would make sure it was carried out. I knew that when I came back it was no longer an option for me, I couldn't change my decision or the events. Thank you so much for reading my experience, I hope I have given you the information you wanted.

Thanks again

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? Yes     The light was incredibly bright but did not hurt the eyes. There were colors that do not exist on earth. Everything (my eyesight) was crystal clear, incredibly vivid. A complete absence of fear. Most difficult to describe was an incredible garden I saw with flowers that had souls and personalities.

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          No      

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    From the time I saw the bright light quickly approaching to the time I asked for help to come back to earth I was entirely alert and aware. In fact more than I have ever been in my life.

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal every day consciousness and alertness?    More consciousness and alertness than normal

If your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience was different from your normal every day consciousness and alertness, please explain:            From the time I saw the bright light quickly approaching to the time I asked for help to come back to earth I was entirely alert and aware. In fact more than I have ever been in my life.

Did your vision differ in any way from your normal, everyday vision (in any aspect, such as clarity, field of vision, colors, brightness, depth perception degree of solidness/transparency of objects, etc.)?  Yes     My vision was clear beyond anything I could have imagined. The colors were brilliant as well as some new colors that don't exist on earth. Everything radiated light, there were no shadows. At times it seemed as if I could see behind as well as in front of me simultaneously. As for solidness/transparency, I know that nothing was solid the way it is on earth yet from what I remember things weren't transparent either. That is something I can't reconcile now.

Did your hearing differ in any way from your normal, everyday hearing (in any aspect, such as clarity, ability to recognize source of sound, pitch, loudness, etc.)?
            Uncertain      I don't remember hearing a sound during the entire experience. I might have forgotten, I'm not sure.

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     Yes

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            fear, shame, embarrassment, happiness, unconditional love, a feeling of being home, felt complete acceptance

Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?          Yes     My first memory is of a dark tunnel with an incredibly bright light which I was being very quickly pulled or drawn to.

Did you see a light?           Yes     The light was so bright while in the tunnel that as I was speeding towards  it I wanted (and tried but there was nothing to grab on to) to stop, afraid that I was going to be incinerated or at the very least blinded by the light.

Did you meet or see any other beings?           Yes     My entire experience, from the time I entered the light was with my "Spirit guides" (I don't recall them telling me who they were but I knew and understood that was who they were). A third man arrived near the end of my experience to talk to my guides about something that was not shared with me. I vaguely recognized him. I knew we had known each other and been close long ago. I went to him to introduce myself and we spoke briefly although I don't recall what we talked about. My guides were the reason for my being there. They told me there was a decision in my life that they wanted me to make. They said they each had their individual ideas but wanted me to make the decision for myself. They told me that things would work out the way they were supposed to regardless of my decision. (I'm paraphrasing because I don't remember the exact words they used.)

Did you experience a review of past events in your life?    Yes     I don't remember the actual review. My only memory of it was immediately after it ended, I felt very embarrassed and ashamed and as I looked to my right where my guides were standing (they had watched it with me) I was afraid they would be upset with me, but was shocked that they had not judged me at all. I was the only one judging me. At that moment I realized that they knew everything about me, every thought, every breath I had ever taken, and loved me completely and unconditionally.

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?          No      

Did you see or visit any beautiful or otherwise distinctive locations, levels or dimensions?            Yes     Once I entered the light I was in a beautiful setting with meadows and trees. After my life review I was still in the meadow but their was a small stream running through the trees that was mesmerizing. Near the end of the experience I saw an incredible flower garden with colors that don't exist on earth.

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Yes     I understood that time did not exist there.

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?     Yes     I knew that, as chaotic as life on earth is, everything was exactly as it is supposed to be. Aside from that I was much more aware of many things than I was before or after the event. I forgot most of the knowledge when I woke up.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Yes     To me the boundary was entering the light, once I had entered the light I was totally safe. When it was time to return I couldn't figure out how to, and still don't know how I was able to leave that place and return.

Did you become aware of future events?       Uncertain
            I don't remember becoming aware of future events but some things have happened in my life since that I seem to recognize.

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience you did not have prior to the experience?     Yes     I have had several times had psychic experiences, especially when someone close to me is ill and won't seek medical help. Something just pushes me to make them go to the hospital and as a result have saved my mother from what I was told would have been a fatal heart attack had I not convinced her to go to the hospital. Also was able to get my father to go to the hospital emergency for a sore spot on his shoulder which turned out to be a blood clot. (his family doctor had told him it was simply a pulled muscle)

Have you shared this experience with others?         No      

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?    Yes     I had seen shows about various paranormal subjects prior to my experience but don't believe it affected my experience in any way.

How did you view the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:            Experience was definitely real    I know it was real because it is the most real experience of my life. If anything it showed me that this life is not truly life.

Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you?            The colors of the garden had a strong impact for some reason.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience:            Experience was definitely real            Although the details of the experience have faded I can still remember enough to know without a doubt that it was real.

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

Have your religious beliefs/practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?            Uncertain      Most of my life I have had a strong sense of heaven (especially 5yrs old and younger) so I don't believe it changed my view, it simply reinforced it.

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?         No                  

Did the questions asked and information you provided so far accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?         Yes