In 1978, my parents, from northern France, worked in New Caledonia. It is worth to mention that none of them was religious, or attending to any church, or interested in spiritual issues. The first event took place when I was only 4 years old.

A Saturday afternoon, while I was taking a nap (I was programmed as a clock and usually did it from 14h to 17h, without ever waking up in the meanwhile) they decided to go to a car rally, a few miles away, without telling me first, since they preferred to leave when I was sleeping, and come back home before I wake up. When I was deeply sleeping, they quietly left. But after some time, I woke up suddenly and got out of my bed. I noticed that I was alone, but did not feel any panic, on the contrary, I was finally going to be able to do what had always fascinated me until then... Every morning, I used to admire my father shaving with a hand razor after putting foam on his face with a shaving brush. I secretly wanted to try this razor (even though I was a perfectly beardless little girl!).

So I went to the bathroom and I climbed on a small stool to look at myself in the mirror. I took the razor and pressed it on my right cheek, rubbing the blade against my skin. The blood gushed out all of a sudden and then I panicked. I remember screaming "Mom!" before instantly seeing a sort of large screen in front of my eyes, like if I was 10 inches from it. Then I saw my mother and my father from backs , on the edge of a dusty road on which rally cars bounded (there were bumps on the road) in a deafening roar. My mother suddenly turned towards me, eyes staring, as if she saw me too. She shouted to my father :"Karine!" something happened to Karine! We must go! ", and he replied, very relaxed: "No... you're getting ideas, let's stay a little longer! ". Mom responded "Oh well, I'm going alone!". Then I saw her moving towards their car, terrified and crying, while Dad continued to enjoy the race, camera in hand.

When I was sure that she was coming back, the screen suddenly cut off, and instead, I saw my reflection in the mirror, with my cheek bleeding. Reassured, I took a piece of cotton and water and I wiped my face. Then, I waited for my mother on the porch, sitting peacefully. She arrived about ten minutes later, her hair  in disorder, very anxious, driving like crazy. When she saw me, she grabbed me, hugged me tight and asked if everything was fine; I confessed having used the razor and cut myself with it. She did not scold me, since she seemed relieved to see I was OK.

At first, I was too young to realize that this form of communication was unusual, so I did not say anything about what I saw. My parents had carefully avoided mention of their intention to go to the car rally in front of me, so I COULD NOT know or imagine they would be over there.

I think that was an experience of spontaneous telepathy, due to my stress, then. This can happen when two people who are very much emotionally connected.

Several years later, we spoke about it, and when I asked her if she also saw me, she said no, but that she had a very strong feeling and was sure that I NEEDED her to come back very quickly, that's all.

My second experience looks more like an NDE, although I lived it during a perfect sleep, back to France.

One of my friends died of an overdose in 1994. His name was Matthieu and he was 21 when it happened. His family was devastated, especially his mother with who he had a very conflicting relationship in the past; she was both angry and blamed herself for not having been able to make up with him before his death. I did not go to his funeral because I knew everyone that I was going to meet would be overwhelmed with grief. At that time, I did not particularly know how to find comforting words or just shut up. So I preferred to stay alone, and send my most affectionate thoughts to Matthieu. I was not particularly inclined towards religion, nor to the spiritual matters then, but I wanted to believe that he would hear me anyway.

Two months later, I met his poor mother in the street. When she saw me, she burst into tears, like she did  every time she met friends of her missing son. I hugged her tight, feeling compassion and pity for her. After few minutes she stopped crying, her face was ravaged by grief. She said: "Besides...you know... when I saw his dead body, he had a huge smile on his face ! As if he was happy to die!". I could not find any words to comfort her, nor to apologize for my absence at the funeral. Anyway, she collapsed during the funeral and did not see the 200 people around her at the cemetery. I went home, upset about Matthieu. Then, I rejected that thought and I kept on with my evening, quietly. But at night in my sleep, I had a dream that took a very peculiar tone. In fact, I'm sure I LIVED IT, not just dreamed it.

I saw myself walking in a lovely garden, a pebble path of light gray (amazingly, they did not sound under my feet). The brightness of the place struck me. The light was very bright, intense but not at all dazzling, pleasant. The colors were indescribable, as we do not see on earth, green grass, blue sky, flowers, everything seemed much more beautiful and almost alive. There were people away, who were  talking quietly,  with a pleased look. They greeted me with the head and a smile and kept on with their conversation. They wore white robes without belts, to the feet. I felt at peace and safe. I saw a small white stone bench (like volcanic rock, but white), without back, on the edge of the road (I did not walk in the grass because it was so beautiful that I did not want to damage it). I sat and waited, certain that someone was coming to meet me, but I did not know who. I heard the birds sing a song similar to those of birds down here. They seemed aware of singing and being appreciated, even if I did not see them.

Then, on my right, Matthieu arrived, walking on the trail. I was very surprised and happy to see him. He came near to kiss me and then, I saw him as I never saw him during his lifetime, his face beamed with joy, peace, love, bliss. He wore baggy jeans and a t-shirt, heavy safety boots, he was ... radiant. He looked better than the most beautiful of all roses. He looked like an all beautiful new baby. I ran towards him, and hugged him. He said "Hello, how are you?". I replied that I was OK, but that his mother was very ill, and I blamed him for the harm he had done. He smiled and replied "I know Karine, I'm sorry, but tell her that I'm fine now. I'm really happy here, and tell her not to worry.". Then, he kissed me again and left with this incredible smile and said to me: "we�ll see again one of these days!". I told myself "for a guy who just died of such a stupid death, he really looks very good here!". At this moment, the vision disappeared.

When I woke up, I was convinced that this conversation I had was real and that I should take it very seriously. I could see the colors, the structure of the garden, Matthieu, the character�s dresses and I thought that with my poor little human brain, it was impossible that I could imagine or create these colors and these tones (I'm doing painting in my spare time and I know what I'm capable or not to create. I did not want to go see Matthieu�s mother in person, because the emotion would have overwhelmed both of us, so I wrote a letter explaining how I met him in a dream and that he was doing very well. I told her how beautiful and happy he looked and that she should not worry anymore. I do not know how she took it, but I can only hope that my letter has comforted her a little. Later, I put in her mailbox, anonymously, Mr. Moody's book �Life after life�. I never saw again my friend in a dream, but I know we'll meet again ... "One of these days."

Later, I read descriptions of what heaven is, done by those who have seen it in their NDR and I think I recognized parts of the place where I was. The intensity of colors, feelings of peace, love and joy, brightness and superb warm, reminded me a lot this particular meeting. So I am sure I saw (at request of Matthieu) a piece of  heaven. I think he wanted to comfort his mother, but at that time, she was lost in her grief, so he could not reach her directly, she would have become mad ...... This is probably why he chose me, knowing that I would find a way to make her to believe me.. Whenever I think of this meeting and at this point of time, I can only be anxious to go back again. For if this is heaven... I know I'll die smiling, too.

The last conscious experience is not an NDE either.

A year after what I just described, the grandmother of my ex-husband died of systemic cancer. I knew her when she had terminal cancer. She only spoke Arabic and I did not.. So when we met, she talked and I just realized that her legs made her suffer terribly. So I massaged her hours and she continued to speak in her language. We knew each other only for four months. Then, she returned to Algeria to die.

One evening a cousin of my ex husband came and told us she had passed away. They left, both shocked, to see the rest of their family and I stayed alone in our apartment. I was in bed when I felt a very strong smell of incense next to me. The smell was really localized near the bed. Since I do not use incense, I got up to check the other rooms of the apartment and found nothing; the smell came from just beside the bed. I thought it was just an illusion. About ten minutes later, smell was gone.

Two months later, I got pregnant.

During my pregnancy, at about 6 months, my ex husband beat me, it was around 11:00 o'clock. Outside it was cold and rainy, with a strong wind. But I ran away not knowing what else to do. I found refuge under the porch of a store to cry. Suddenly, I felt the same smell as when the grandmother died. There was a very strong wind and the smell of incense remained with me until I stop crying. When I realized this, I just could not think that this was an illusion. I felt so sad, supported by an invisible force. So I went back to the apartment, convinced that whatever happens, I was not alone.

Today, I am no longer with this violent man I have found true love and my family life is very happy.

I always believed that life here is a temporary journey, a learning, sometimes surprising and beautiful, and basically, that only love between human beings really matters. These three events made me realize that the �Invisible� is among us and it manifests in our lives when we do not expect it, but only if our heart is ready to welcome it ...

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? No, not at all.

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 always conscious and rational.

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal every day consciousness and alertness?    Normal consciousness and alertness. I was always conscious and alert.

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.)?  No      

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.)?
            No      

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience?         First, I was surprised and then, I felt peace.

Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?          No      

Did you see a light?           No      

Did you meet or see any other beings?          Yes   

Did you experience a review of past events in your life?    No, I �learned� that life does not end.

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    

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   No      

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?     No      

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, much more intuition, but I rarely use it.

Have you shared this experience with others?  Yes, but only with open mind people, I avoid to shock Cartesian...

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. Intimate conviction does not explain, one feels it.

Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you?   

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

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience? No, I try to bring peace and laugh to everybody. I also worked on what I experienced, and I became more open to the invisible signs..

Have your religious beliefs/practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?     Yes    

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 

Translated by Jacqueline.