Near Death Experience or (NDE) is a term used for the extraordinary process of dying and then returning. Most people describe a tunnel of light, some return before they enter it, some return whilst on the journey and others return after completing the journey. Those who fully recollect the events remember some form of life review, each event flashing by as quickly as the blink of an eye. This phenomena has been recognized throughout history and is accepted by many cultures. It has been witnessed by many surgeons, theatre nurses and resuscitation teams as they have watched the signs of life fade and the discovered the patient has remembered the finest detail of events which have taken place. The patient appears to have stepped out of their body and observed those who are trying to assist. NDE, widely studied by eminent neurologists and psychologists and yet , until recently, fully accepted only by those who have “been there” and peered through the window to find themselves, Those who remember have full realization of the impact every act, thought and intention has on our lives and our afterlife.

People young and old who have experienced an NDE know it life transforming. They want to share the experience but for many it is impossible. It is too traumatic for their loved ones recovering from their near loss to hear the details of what took place during the time they were ‘lost”. The family only want to celebrate their return. This is particularly true for children who have experience NDE’s, as often they simply don’t have the language to express themselves, being too young or their memory is dismissed as fantasy. Often the memory of an NDE can lie dormant and return as adult in dreams or sudden moments of clarity..

I have been researching NDR’s for many years in order to make sense of my own experiences. I had four as an adult, the first in 1979 and the last 1998 and recently discovered I had one as a child. Each of my adult NDE’s was an extraordinary event, accidents in which timing seemed to play a crucial part. Each led to major changes in my life best, illustrated by my third adult NDE in 1984.

I lived in Egypt at the time and was driving from Cairo to Alexandria. I was 80 km outside Cairo when the sandstorm struck. I felt a rush of heat to the right of me and suddenly the car was roasting hot. I lost visibility. Trying to stay calm, I began to slow the car down gradually, knowing the lorries behind me considered brakes an optional extra. I felt secure that road was straight as an arrow (as everyone had told me) from Cairo to Alexandria. The Peugot lion on the steering wheel was my marker, if he was upright I was OK The next moment I was flying and everything changed.

I experienced a life reviewn: images, sounds, smells and intense emotions flickering before me like the old style movies. I was weightless in a tunnel with a bright indescribably beautiful light at the end. I was moving very fast towards the light, I felt great joy and urgency to get to the light then suddenly just before the end of the tunnel I stopped. I heard Eric Clapton singing ‘If I saw you in Heaven’ and strange creaking, sighing sounds around me.

I realized the creaking was the sound of the car as it settled on its roof in a ditch, the music, my Eric Clapton cassette which was still playing. I was upside down, as my car lay on its roof in a 15ft ditch (the incomplete central reservation). I could not believe I was back in the car, disappointed to have left the light. I kicked open the drivers door with a sudden adrenaline burst of strength and began to run away from the car, fearful it would blow up and totally unaware of my injuries. When I looked back the car had been turned over by rescuers, the roof was totally flattened.. Already the Bedouins were coming out of the desert to claim their treasures, as the desert was their domain.. I was led back. One by one they came up to me and very gently, almost reverently touched my arm. They could not believe I was alive. I had one flesh wound a scratch on my arm which the Bedouin who accompanied back to Cairo in a taxi cleaned with his turban and water, thanking me and God for the privilege over and over again.

My injuries meant it was some time before I returned to the car. I expected to find a shell but instead it was completely intact with the Bedouins camped close by. They treated me with deep respect and I felt their total understanding of my experience.

My journey to wellness lead me to train as a Feldenkrais Practitioner and now pain free, I appreciate the opportunity to help other survivors of car accidents and other near misses. I often recognize those who have had death experiences, there is a distinct light in their eyes even if they don’t “remember”..

A NDE can evokes a great sense of loss which can be life crippling if it goes unrecognized. In my last experience I did get to the end of the tunnel. The light that surrounded me was unlike anything I had every experienced and the sense of unconditional love and acceptance filled me completely. I was told I could stay but I knew there was more for me to do, yet the sense of loss, having been in the presence of something indescribably divine overwhelmed me for a number of years. Telling my story and showing the film “The Day I Died”, is an important part of my journey.

On September 8th 2001 I attended my first program at The Monroe Institute, Virginia, USA and there began another adventure. During the 8 programs I attended over the last 10 years, I have received confirmation, clarification and healing of all my NDEs, I look forward to helping others

Barbara Jones completed her training as a Facilitator for the Monroe Institute Outreach Excursion Programs and looks forward to answering your questions and sharing more of her experiences with you on her weekend Excursion Outreach Programs. Barbara is hosting the film “The Day I Died” (BBC Documentory), on condition that you sign up to attend the film beforehand, thereby maintaining the private showing license. You can do this at Barbara’s table #51 at the Mind, Body and Spirit Exhibition, Nicosia, November 13th and 14th or on Barbara’s website www.barbarajonestherapies.com