Sudman - The application of impossible things : my near death experience in Iraq

The Application of

Impossible Things

My Near Death

Experience in Iraq

By Natalie Sudman

2012 by Natalie Sudman

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Sudman, Natalie, 1960

Application of Impossible Things - My Near Death Experience in Iraq, by Natalie Sudman

Natalies near death experience when her truck was hit with a roadside bomb in Iraq. She recalls the entire spirit side experience as they repair her body so she could live.

1. Near Death Experience 2. Iraq 3. Spirit Side 4. Metaphysics

I. Sudman, Natalie, 1960- II. Metaphysics III. Iraq IV. Title

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2011945965

ISBN: 978-1-886940-24-6

Cover Art and Layout: www.noir33.com

Book set in: Times New Roman

Book Design: Julia Degan

Published by:

PO Box 754, Huntsville, AR 72740

800-935-0045 or 479-738-2348; fax 479-738-2448

www.ozarkmt.com

Table of Contents

Authors Note

Getting blown up was not a solo event, but the experiences and interpretations set forth in this book are mine alone. To my knowledge, no one else present during the incident recalls any similar experiences. My guess is that if any of them become aware of this book, they will shake their heads, roll their eyes, and attribute my memories to hallucinations of stress or the unfortunate side effects of severe concussion. Some will be embarrassed on my behalf, bless their generous hearts.

In an effort to protect the privacy of others who were present during and after the incident, names of individuals have been changed, place names have been avoided, and dates have been deliberately omitted.

If any of those people do happen read this book, though, I want to thank you from the bottom of my soul. Thank you for carrying me to safety and patching me up while I blabbered on morphine. Thank you for operating on me with such fine results, and for flying me from place to place in your helos* and C130s. Thank you for worrying about me, caring for me with attention and humor, and for pushing me when I needed it. Thank you for listening and patiently answering my endless questions, and thank you for laughing with meand at me! Thank you for dealing with the horrors of federal paperwork involved when an army civilian is blown up and for insisting on a place for my care within the military facilities, then monitoring the quality of that care. Thank you for calling me on the phone from far-flung places and for visiting me and telling me I looked good when I looked like shit. Thank you for bringing me amazing gifts all those anonymous strangers just walking into my room: who were all of you angels?! Thank you for sending emails and funny cards and colorful flowers and seeds that grew as my body healed. Thank you for presenting me with medals that I didnt deserve and for believing that I did deserve them. Thank you for including me in your prayers and thoughts though Id never even met most of you. I was, and still am, overwhelmed and profoundly moved by having been on the receiving end of such an unimaginable outpouring of care and generosity.

I will always look for ways to pass that beauty forward.

PREFACE

I was blown up in a roadside bomb attack in Iraq. The incident has had lasting effects on my physical life: vision in my right eye was affected, and I still have limited mobility in one wrist and shoulder. Small titanium patches cover holes in my skull.

Within the context of working in Iraq, getting blown up is an interesting (if rather histrionic) memory that gains its full value when viewed through the complex whole of the war environment and the work that I did there. Those memories describe a trajectory and an environment that would fill a bookbut not this book.

Rather than focusing on a broad perspective by relating a story of sixteen months working in Iraq administering construction contracts for the US Army, in this book I intend to stay narrow, digging into what took place within a few short seconds at the time of the explosion. Or perhaps between seconds. When our truck was hit by the improvised explosive device (IED), I had what the paranormal community would refer to as an out-of-body experience.

I use the out-of-body or OBE designation without being certain its the best description. Near death experience or NDE, might also be accurate. When the explosion occurred, I immediately left my body. I didnt experience the classic tunnel of light that others have reported. I simply blinked to another place, one that was familiar in essence. I was conscious, and I know not believe that what I experienced was real.

Id like to think that telling this story and exploring some of its details and implications might in some way assist others, yet I approach it with some internal resistance. My reasons for hesitation have to do with issues that many others must recognize: fear and insecurity. First and foremost, I hesitate to expose a low-profile paranormal awareness to the general public and thus open myself to the possibility of ridicule and scorn of particular and various friends whose connections I value. Responding to skepticism by listening politely can be tedious. Engaging skeptics in dialogue about psychic phenomena is rarely fruitful.

Secondly, I question whether I own appropriate authority to write about things that others may be able to address more clearly or with greater depth and assurance. This is not to say that I dont trust my own perception or my personal authority but rather an acknowledgement that people prefer a solid string of proven past performance in a writer. If I could cite a few scientific studies of psi phenomena in which Id participated and produced amazing results or if I introduced myself by providing proof of a few years worth of amazing psychic predictions, perhaps Id be more comfortable introducing myself. I present none of those credentials.

Finally, similar experiences have been recounted in many books. Why add another?

Some recent events have forced me to admit to myself that certain things that come easily and naturally to me are not necessarily easy and instinctive for others. What people seek through a burgeoning choice of institutes, classes, groups and belief systems, I have to admit Ive always known and frequently put to use. At times Ive buried the skills or tried to deny them, but being of my essence , theyre impossible to actually lose. And finding life unbearably dull or alarmingly sloppy without their use keeps prompting me to return to them.

Since I was a child, Ive had precognitive dreams and waking visions. Ever since I can remember, Ive been acutely aware of the energy of buildings and old battlefields and have often seen and interacted with spirits. Ive had out-of-body experiences, given accurate psychic readings for friends and strangers, and journeyed through worlds and dimensions as shamans do. As evidence, however, I cant comfortably present these experiences as proof or validation of any authority I might have in the subject of the paranormal. In only a few instances have I shared an experience with someone who could attest to its truth.