Experience description:

I was traveling through something that is best described as a tunnel, steel grey, and at a great speed.  The sound was something like a vacuum cleaner, but half of its volume.  At the end of the tunnel, there was a brilliant light, so bright, and felt no pain, but sensed an unbelievable level of joy.  It was a wonderful experience.  Then, I woke up, and realized it was a truly powerful dream, unlike other normal dreams.  In a couple of weeks after the dream, I read Elisabeth Kubler Ross' book, "On Death and Dying", and was dumbfounded on what she wrote about a tunnel experience.  From that point on, I became involved with hospice work.  My fear of death simply evaporated.

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? No      

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?    I was asleep.

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

            I was asleep.

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 sense of joy was just amazing, unlike anything else.  It was a complete awe.

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.)?
            Yes     I am Deaf, and so was my Mother.  In my dream, my hearing was clear.

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Awe is probably the best word to describe it.

Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?          Yes    

Did you see a light?           Yes    

Did you meet or see any other beings?           No      

Did you experience a review of past events in your life?    No      

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?           No           

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Uncertain     

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?     Uncertain           

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? No      

Did you become aware of future events?       No           

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience you did not have prior to the experience?     Yes     Sensed someone's impending death, and made a trip to hospice, and met that person for the first time.  I brought with me a Catholic priest.  After about 15 minutes of our visit with him, he died.

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     I shared this experience with many people.  I think I have a reputation that is reliable.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?    No      

How did you view the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:            Experience was definitely real    Normal dreams, after waking up, tend to fade away rather quickly.  That tunnel experience, it appears not one detail has "faded away" from my memory.

Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you?            That my mother is all right.  That was my mom's message to me.  For some strange reason, I'm certain it was my mom, and no one else or anything else.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience:            Experience was definitely real    see above

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?           Yes     I was, and still am, comfortable working with people approaching their end, and was able to counsel them effectively.

Have your religious beliefs/practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?            Yes     Because my mother did not have a religion, I came to believe that God is an "equal opportunity savior".

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