Without words, knowledge was imparted to me that my path is mine, and whether or not I attend church is not relevant.  Nor is it relevant for me to attempt to compare my path to the path of anyone else.  Our truth lies within each us, and we each have no choice but to live our truth. 

It was also imparted to me very strongly . . . there are no words for this.  The closest I can come to it is the phrase “Don’t sweat the small stuff.”  And that Earth, and anything that happens there as compared to who I am, is the small stuff. 

And then, what felt like a split second later, I was back in my recliner.

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

Was the experience difficult to express in words?  Yes     I can't describe what I visually saw because I didn't use my vision to see it.  Blackness was not actually black.  The Earth as I experienced it was a vibrant representation of what normally would see when looking at an image of Earth.  The knowledge to 'not sweat the small stuff' is the closest earthly expression I can come to what I experienced.  My thoughts were not 'speeded up,' per se, but at the same time they happened outside of the space of time, and instantly.  It's like the difference between laying words of a sentence in a linear pattern on a table, versus what I experienced, which was a stack of those same words.  So, not speeded up, but not linear, either.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?      The entire episode must have lasted a fraction of a second, all of it occurred at the highest level of consciousness.  There was no graduation.

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   There was no distraction.  It's like the noise in my brain had ceased, and my only thought process involved the knowledge being imparted to me.

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   I can't describe what I visually saw because I didn't use my vision to see it.  Blackness was not actually black.  The Earth as I experienced it was a vibrant representation of what normally would see when looking at an image of Earth.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   There was no hearing.

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?   Emotions were not processed during the experience.  Only afterward.  I felt relief and calmness because I was not distracted with my normal brain 'noise.'  The joy also came after, when I realized I'd been shown something special.  At the time, it was merely a knowledge download.  

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 neither left this world nor stayed in it.  I did not travel.   So I do not feel I 'went to' an unearthly world.  I simply stopped being aware of my world, if that makes sense.

Did time seem to speed up or slow down?   Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning
Although I do not feel anything 'sped up,' there were two linear parts to it: 1) I was looking at a vision of earth, and then 2) knowledge was imparted to me.  It also felt like the entire experience lasted only a split second, yet also, as the knowledge was being imparted to me I somehow had time to process it.  In that vein, the question 'Was time sped up?' The answer is both 'Yes, absolutely,' and 'No, not at all.'  I have no other way to describe it.

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything?   No

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”)?   Yes   By 'Don't sweat the small stuff' + 'Earth is the small stuff,' I was flooded with the knowledge that we are so much greater than what we know the Universe to be. It's just one short stop on some great journey.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that God or a supreme being either does (or does not) exist?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that you either did (or did not) exist prior to this lifetime?   Uncertain   I think what I got in the form of knowledge was actually validation of a belief I had already held.  The 'awareness' was there at the time of my experience.  The validation was what was new.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that a mystical universal connection or unity/oneness either does (or does not) exist?   Uncertain   Again, I think what I received was validation of a belief I had already held.  My experience really wasn't focused on the connectedness of the universe or oneness with it, but more focused on 'Hey, wow, Earth is just one small part of my journey, quit worrying about all the details.'  The experience was very focused, and not all-encompassing.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s meaning or purpose?   Yes   Life on Earth is part of our existence, and perhaps only a small part.

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?   No  

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've spent my adult years crafting my beliefs about my oneness with the Universe, and I believe I was given this experience as a gift, crafted just for me, to calm me down about my life here, to help me focus on things that matter so that I can stop distracting myself with things that don't (such as guilt over not attending church regularly).  And it was limited to this aspect only, versus being all-encompassing.

What occurred during your experience included:   Content that was entirely consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience   I've spent my adult years crafting my beliefs about my oneness with the Universe, and I believe I was given this experience as a gift, crafted just for me, to calm me down about my life here, to help me focus on things that matter so that I can stop distracting myself with things that don't (such as guilt over not attending church regularly).  And it was limited to this aspect only, versus being all-encompassing.

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 the experience   The best way to describe it is that it was 100% focus.  For that reason, the experience was simplified, not complicated by my brain trying to fill in details.  I do not believe my brain was involved at all.  For that reason, there was absolute clarity.  I've never felt that level of clarity.

Discuss any changes that might have occurred in your life after your experience:   My spiritual life for the last 20 years or so has been pretty much devoid of organized religion.  I don't view God as a white, Anglo old man with a beard, sitting on a cloud.  I have, for the last couple of decades, viewed God as more a process than an entity.  I believe in the power of prayer.  I believe in connectedness with all things.  I believe in reincarnation.  I believe we're on this Earth to be compassionate toward others and to help others.  I believe Earth is a school, now confirmed to me through my experience, to be one of many.  Nothing about my experience changed any of that, only enhanced it.  However, I have an upcoming trip to see my ailing brother next week, and he and I will attend the Easter Mass.  And I am excited about that.  Church is extremely important to my brother's journey.  The Mass will therefore take on a new flavor for me.  I'll be celebrating for his sake, and I'll be able to enjoy it, guilt free.

My experience directly resulted in:   Slight 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'm not longer going to worry that if my journey does not involve religion, that means it's wrong for me. Because, now I understand, it isn't.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience?   No  

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you?     I'm just so thankful for it.  There is joy in having had this experience.  There may have even been a little bit of humor in it.  'Lea, calm down already!'  And I, and the Universe, chuckle in unison.

Have you ever shared this experience with others?   Yes  To be honest, I waited a week, if for no other reason than wanting a truly captive audience.  I have had a couple of other (what I would term) metaphysical experiences, but this one I would truly call an epiphany.  When I told my best friend, I was met with total acceptance.  It felt good.  I have a few close friends I share things like this with, and they share similar things with me.  It's another way we help one another while we're on Earth.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?   Yes   I grew up in the 1960s.  By the 1970s Raymond Moody had published his first book.  I've been tracking scientific compilations ever since.  My mother, living at the time, wasn't convinced it wasn't all a bunch of hooey.  'All the so-called psychics and metaphysicists are out of California and all writing books at the same time, Lea, did you notice that?'  Haha.  I've taken it very seriously.  I considered it a great victory for humankind, when Dr. Moody's colleagues eventually started taking notice and no longer refuting his research.  NDERF.org is a great place to read about experiences of others.  Thank you for being here.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:   Experience was definitely real   As real today as it was in January.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience at the current time:   Experience was definitely real   As real today as it was in January.  Because my brain seemed to be not involved, the experience was very simple and therefore unable to be muddied by my imagination.

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?   No  

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience?   No  

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience?   It just tickles me that I was given this gift.

Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?   Yes   The only thing about your questionnaire concerns religion/spirituality.  I can't remember what question asked about this.  I am completely spiritual without being religious.  I think whatever question that was, should probably be two questions.