Jean R. sends this account of Marta Y.’s near-death experience. Note especially the statement: “I learned that my earthly eyes are those through which God can recognize Himself, and be conscious of Himself.” Her spiritual eyes are4 also those through which God can recognize Herself and be conscious of Herself.
Marta fills out a questionnaire on her experience. The questionnaire itself suggests some common experiences of many NDEs. NDEs feature many of the events we encounter after death, the only difference being that we must return to our bodies and continue with our lessons. Oftentimes they result in a complete turnaround in an otherwise unfruitful life. The spiritual knowledge they bring is invaluable, but available to all of us after the transition we think of as “death.”
Marta Y.’s Near-Death Experience
March 13, 1985, [1) I was admitted to Ayala Hospital of the IMSS (Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social – publicly-funded) in Guadalajara, following an accident in a taxi causing me much pain in the neck and back. I was alone, my family unaware of what was happening as I had no time to tell them. I could hardly speak and could not hold my head upright.
I was put in a waiting-room, where I stayed more than two hours while nobody paid any attention to me, until a lady who was there, a total stranger, made sure I was quickly attended to when she saw that I was almost fainting from the pain. The doctors and nurses had put attending patients on hold because they were celebrating the birthday of one of them.
When they finally got around to me, a doctor, without checking me properly, ordered a drip put in place with various analgesics. I was taken to a small room since their were no available beds, and a nurse proceeded to put the drip in me. My veins are hard to find and after a bit, already desperate, she placed the drip in a vein inside my left elbow; but as this is an area which has to be immobile, she went off to find something to do this with, and as soon as she was gone I started feeling that the drip was provoking a tachycardia, and I realized something was wrong. I wanted to pull it out, but my muscles no longer obeyed me. And in my mind I had just one idea: “I’m dying and I want to be lying face up, to die in comfort.”
When the nurse returned and saw me, she called out for help, a stretcher-bearer came and asked me to climb on the gurney, but I could not manage it alone. Then a doctor came, and between the two of them they lifted me up; I tried to get on the steps, but could not, then with my last remaining strength I said to the doctor: “Thank you, God bless you.” I’ve no idea why I said this to him, but immediately afterwards everything went black and I don’t remember how the laid me down again, nor do I know whether I fell, or what happened.
After this, the first thing I remember is being alone, lying face-up and opening my eyes, to see a strong light on the ceiling (I don’t really know if I physically opened my eyes, and saw one of the theater lights, or if it was a question of Divine Light).
Later, I saw a kind of mist, lit up in brilliant royal blue, coming out of my nose, at the space between the eyebrows. I simply said, that’s me leaving my body, with great serenity, and as if it was something I had already experienced before.
Very soon I felt myself floating in the air and looked towards the gurney where I saw my body, but I was above it, a moment of indescribable emotion. I marvelled at what the physical body is and how small, compared with the dimensions of the spirit. I understood that reincarnation exists. And when I turned to look around me, I realized that I could see through the walls and I saw a man, who was also in the theater, also leaving his body. Then, in a small room, I saw a friend of mine from childhood, whom I had not seen since, working as a radiologist, taking x-ray images of a lady, and I said, there’s Juan, and straight off I was there in front of him and I said to him: “How lovely to see you,” but he showed not a trace of having heard me, which made me understand that he could neither hear nor see me, that I was dead.
I came straight back to the room where my body was and I saw the doctors striking my chest over and over; it bothered me that they were mistreating it. I wanted to try and stop them, but it was hopeless, I shouted but they didn’t hear me, I wanted to grab their hands but I couldn’t, I became desperate and anxious.
But suddenly I felt a force sucking me away upwards and at first I struggled to escape it, but when I realized it was useless, I let myself be taken spinning towards (the light).
I passed through the tunnel, felt strange presences, but the light which could be seen at the end got bigger and bigger as I went towards it, and the speed of my travel got faster and faster, until I began to feel that it was too fast, and a wind was caressing my body. My body was stretched out, like the Vitruvian man, forming a beautiful five-pointed star with my head and four limbs. I felt immensely happy and suddenly I was brought to an abrupt halt, and stayed there as if floating in the void.
In front of me was a being, male, aged, with beautiful hands which looked like wings and moved harmoniously. I did not remember having seen him before, yet I seemed to know him from all my previous lives. I felt it was my guardian angel, who was there to guide me. I wanted to embrace him but something indefinable prevented me from approaching. Although his mouth did not move, he spoke to my interior mind telling me many things. Some, I understood, while others I did not, I felt it was a strange language. The little that at this time I remember having understood included the following:
“Like all other beings, you are living in order to accomplish a mission, and you are not doing this. You must change your way of living, you are supposed to help many other beings, and you are not doing so. You have to stop eating meat, as no one who eats meat can remain here.”
Following this, I saw my entire life in great detail, and experienced feelings through it of satisfaction, shame, repentance, following on each other without leaving me time to think.
After this I saw myself floating in the void, and little by little tiny spheres of many colors became manifest, not moving at first, then suddenly starting to vibrate while smoothly approaching me and incorporating themselves with my essence, which made me feel something I can’t manage to describe, it was as if I was being tickled. I asked what this was, and a voice said, “This is the knowledge you have accumulated in previous lives, it was kept from you, but now it will be of use to you.”
Then we were again face to face, the ancient being and I, and he told me many incomprehensible things, but he made me understand somehow that it was not a question of interpreting what he told me, I just had to register the information, and in time I would understand. And so I was there, who knows how long, as if under a torrent of information which seemed important to me although for the moment I did not understand it.
I felt more and more happy in that place, and then suddenly I heard behind me the voice of a child, which did not sound in any way like that of my two-year-old son, the only child I had at that time; but after some moments I felt that it was a child of mine, too, and when I turned to look at him, I felt an immense joy on seeing his face, and heard him say to me: “Mommy, mommy, I’m Hermes,” and I realized there was something special about him. He vanished into a white mist and I went immediately to look for him, without much caring that the ancient being was still passing on information to me.
Then I heard a voice say: “Imelda, Imelda!” I opened my eyes and saw everything around me from inside my physical body again. One of the doctors was calling me by name and straight away I sat up, and noticed that nothing was hurting, and I could move my muscles with perfect ease. But they laid me down again and asked me to give them the name and telephone number of a relative, to advise them of my situation. I could only remember my friend Juan, and the social worker knew him, so they went to look for him and he gave the news to my family.
When I discussed it with the doctor, he told me that (the experience) was the product of the pain-killers, which distort the mental processes.
But my husband, who is a doctor, did believe me, and later on I kept slowly and gently deciphering all the messages.
Three-and-a-half years later, my second child was born, and we called him Hermes.
Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words?
Uncertain. What the being who received me in that place communicated to me seemed to be in a strange language, or the concepts he used were not ones that I understood at the time. I struggled greatly to try and understand what he was saying, but after a “while”, I let myself relax and focussed just on receiving the information even without understanding it, as I felt that later on I would have the opportunity to interpret the content.
It needed nearly two months before this happened. Since that time, all the ideas started to flow like an inexhaustible fountain.
At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?
Yes. From anaphylactic shock my heart stopped beating for 15 minutes, and vital signs ceased, leading the doctors to pronounce me dead.
At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?
Throughout.
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:
Throughout.
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, when I left my body I could see through walls and ceilings. I could see Juan, a childhood friend I had not seen again until then and that I did not know was working in that hospital.
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 felt I could hear sounds with my whole body, not just my ears. Also, when I was travelling at great speed through the tunnel, I heard a sound like an airplane engine buzzing around me and slowly fading behind me, as if I was getting further away from it.
Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?
Yes
What emotions did you feel during the experience?
At first, I saw that a bright blue light was leaving through my nostrils and I felt or thought that it was myself leaving my body, but in a way which was more natural than I could have hoped for; I felt that I was dying and I was not afraid. Then I was already there kind of floating by the ceiling and I was surprised to see my body lying below me and looking so small, my own dimensions having become so immense. I could not understand who I was imprisoned and compacted into that so tiny body. I admired it and marvelled at the beauty and perfection of that container, and I gave thanks to my inner being that it had allowed me to live by means of that container. And a great bliss enveloped me, and I felt that a feeling of Peace and profound Love was embracing me. Greater than any I had felt while I was alive.
Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?
Yes. When I decided to let myself be carried along by the attraction which I felt behind me, I turned round, and then I saw an intense light, like a lighthouse in the midst of intense darkness, and felt myself drawn along by a smooth suction which kept accelerating and finished up being for me an exquisite journey. But at first I felt that I was in a tunnel filled with something indescribable, at times I felt it like snakes or dark beings, though I had no time to even feel fear, as the light was more central to my focus and I felt protected by it.
Did you see a light?
Yes. I saw a very intense light, intoxicatingly beautiful, which made me feel warmth and safety, love, peace and happiness. I went quickly towards it and blessedness and joy invaded me, it is beyond words. I would have stayed there eternally in front of the beautiful light.
Did you meet or see any other beings?
Yes. The main Being is the one who received me and guided me in the experience. But behind him there was a special landscape, resembling fields with swaths of flowers of great beauty. There many people could be seen who were looking at me in astonishment, but I did not recognize any of them.
Did you experience a review of past events in your life?
Yes, I saw my life in rapid images, from the moment of my birth. And I, who thought that my mother had never loved me, saw clearly, and felt, her love when she saw me for the first time. I saw how she kissed me and enfolded me in her arms, and I felt different feelings with every image which went through my mind, or before my eyes, I cannot define it. And just as I could feel deeply happy at an image of something good I had done for someone, so also this feeling would change immediately and I would feel myself deeply ashamed of something bad that I had done.
I realized that no one was judging me other than myself, with a conscience full of wisdom and divine justice which made me pass judgement on myself. And I realized that I had done more bad than good and I was hugely regretful of my actions. From the depths of my soul I asked to be given the chance to mend the damage I had done to the people who loved me. I learned that the spirit is God, Who is eternal, and that we reincarnate to learn different things, which would be impossible in a single lifetime.
I learned that we form a single being with everything created. I learned that my earthly eyes are those through which God can recognize Himself, and be conscious of Himself. And I learned that what we think, feel and do remains imprinted in the universe and that we come to this life to improve, to learn in humility about all that surrounds us, and to teach what we have learned to others, and especially I learned that life is focused on two aspects: Love and Service.
Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?
Yes. When I was most fascinated , receiving information from the Being who attended me, I heard a tiny voice from behind me saying: “Mommy, Mommy!” But it was not a voice I knew, and as I heard it insistently speaking I turned round and saw that it was a little person, whom at first I took to be feminine because he had long hair streaming playfully around his lovely little face, and he said to me: “Mommy, I am Hermes, your son, I need you to go back…”
Then he retreated and everything grew dark again… When I told my husband about this detail, I said that I felt it was my son. I drew his face in pencil, then forgot about it. But three-and-a-half years later, on April 20, 1998, I had a son and we called him Hermes. I let his hair grow, and it is identical with the drawing.
Did you see or visit any beautiful or otherwise distinctive locations, levels or dimensions?
Yes. I saw myself floating surrounded by colored spheres and I sensed how each sphere vibrated and came towards me and mingled with my energy, dissolving instantly and making me feel a kind of tickling which filled me with joy. I asked what these were and a voice replied that they were the knowledge I had acquired in the past and that I was now being allowed to reintegrate them so that they would be of use to me when I recovered consciousness, and would be the base and foundation of my new life.
Did you have any sense of altered space or time?
Yes. I felt that time did not correspond with what I was used to. It seemed that a great deal of time passed there, more or less a week, but when I came round in my body, I realized that just a few minutes had gone by. Also, the dimensions of length, height and width to which I was accustomed in the physical body, seemed to have no validity there. I felt that I myself was bigger than any 12-story building. At the same time I felt so small next to what I was seeing…
Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?
Yes. I understood many things which my grandmother had taught me since childhood, and there was no room for doubt, since not only did I understand them, I lived them.
Now I know that everything in the Universe obeys the Divine and Perfect Laws.
That Love is the fountain of all that exists.
That I come from God, am God and go towards God.
Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?
Yes. I was not allowed to cross over, there was a force which prevented me from continuing onwards and I felt the this meant that it was not yet my time to make the crossing.
Did you become aware of future events?
Yes. I could see a young being who was born to me three-and-a-half years later.
Also I felt that in the future I would have to help many people who were in danger.
Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience you did not have prior to the experience?
Yes. Now I feel when someone is in danger, or when I handle and object belonging to a missing person, I can feel what is happening to them, or if they are alive or dead. I have been able to find abducted persons. But it is very exhausting for me and I have put my life at risk several times, which is why I no longer do this. But I can make contact with the Higher Being of each person, in order to answer some questions they have and which may relate to their realizing an advance in spiritual consciousness.
Have you shared this experience with others?
Yes. Two months later I began to share my experience with others and those who heard me have reported feeling peace and tranquillity, losing the fear of death. I have more than two-thousand pupils whom I have taught how to get in contact with their Higher Being, and through this we have given many consultations to people concerning their past lives, their mission in this life and with this information they have been able to conquer their fears and material burdens.
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 . I saw it as a call to alertness, so that I might take a new direction and do what I have come to do.
Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you? The whole experience was very meaningful.
How do you currently view the reality of your experience?
Experience was definitely real . It changed my life for the better and now I know that I have accomplished what I came to do and I am now read for the time when the universe is disposed, to leave happy and satisfied.
Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?
Yes. I no longer feel bitterness, hate or any negative feeling towards anyone. I can only see God in other people and I know that what happens is always Just and for the best.
Have your religious beliefs/practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?
Yes. I can no longer belong to any religious cult.
I only do what my conscience tells me is right, I try to live in harmony with everything and everyone.
I love everything created.
I live without material cares.
I am going against time’s current to serve others, as when it comes to love and service, there is never enough time.
Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?
Yes. I have twice already had other similar experiences, but they have not been as relevant as this first one.
Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?
That I thank you, and feel privileged to live in order to tell my story.
Footnotes
(1) One of the two dates Marta gives here must have a typo. She says that the accident happened in 1985, Hermes was born around three years later, and he was born in 1998. So either the accident happened in 1995 or Hermes was born in 1988. Thanks to Stephen for pointing out the typo.