Death, I found out in the worst way possible on the worst day of my life, is the one and only inevitable truth of life. While the passing of a loved one often results in profound grief, a significant number of people —including me!—report experiencing what they believe to be communications from those who have crossed over. These experiences, known as after-death communications (ADC), provide solace, closure, and even spiritual awakening for many.

As the demand for understanding and connecting with the spirit realm grows, both researchers and therapists are diving deep into the world of induced after-death communication. This article aims to shed light on this emergent area of interest.

Disclaimer: While this article discusses therapeutic techniques related to induced after-death communication, I'm not a therapist and cannot provide medical advice. Always consult with a professional when seeking therapeutic interventions.

Understanding After-Death Communication (ADC)

At its core, after-death communication represents spontaneous and usually unexpected encounters or experiences that convey a sense of being contacted or communicated with by someone who has passed away. These can manifest in various ways, including:

Dreams:

Often the most reported form of ADC, where the deceased appear vividly and often convey messages of love, reassurance, or guidance.

Symbols:

Certain recurring symbols, like specific animals, numbers, or natural phenomena, can be perceived as after death communication symbols from the departed.

Sensations:

A sudden fragrance that relates to the deceased, a fleeting touch, or even a familiar voice.

While these experiences have been anecdotally reported for centuries, it's only in recent years that the field of psychology has begun to seriously consider the implications and applications of ADCs in therapeutic settings.

Induced After-Death Communication (IADC): Bridging the Gap

Induced after-death communication is a newer therapeutic technique, drawing comparisons to Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a treatment primarily utilized for trauma and PTSD. IADC aims to help individuals in grief access healing visions or communications with the deceased.

In an IADC session, under the guidance of a trained therapist, individuals are led through a series of visualizations and bilateral stimulation (similar to EMDR) to help facilitate potential communication with the deceased. Many report profound, vivid experiences that assist in the healing process.

After-Death Communication Research: The Science Behind the Spirit

Scientific validation for such phenomena remains a topic of debate, but strides have been made in understanding ADCs' psychological and therapeutic implications. Studies have looked into various facets:

Frequency & Forms:

A majority of bereaved individuals report some form of after-death communication. The nature of these varies, but dreams and symbolic encounters are common.

Psychological Effects:

Many who experience ADCs report reduced symptoms of grief, depression, and anxiety. The therapeutic potential of these experiences is increasingly being recognized.

Neurological Underpinnings:

Some theories propose that ADCs, particularly induced ones, might be linked to specific brain activity or neural pathways. While this doesn't negate the authenticity of the experience for the individual, it provides a possible explanation for why some people are more receptive to ADCs.

Navigating the Journey: Stories and Experiences

After death communication stories are both poignant and diverse. From a mother sensing the reassuring presence of her departed child to a widower receiving messages in dreams, these tales echo the timeless human yearning to bridge the gap between life and death.

Books on the subject, such as "Hello From Heaven!" by Bill and Judy Guggenheim, offer a comprehensive look into hundreds of firsthand ADC accounts, adding layers of depth to our understanding.

Dreams: A Direct Line?

After death communication dreams stand out as particularly vivid and emotionally charged. The clarity of these dreams, combined with the often profound messages they carry, make them a subject of both fascination and research.

Quotes and Reflections: What Happens After Death?

"What happens after death?" is a question that has intrigued humanity for millennia. Philosophers, spiritual leaders, and thinkers have weighed in:

"Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come." - Rabindranath Tagore

"The boundaries between life and death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where one ends and the other begins?" - Edgar Allan Poe

Such reflections offer a glimpse into the vast tapestry of beliefs and perceptions surrounding death and the possibility of continued existence or communication.

The Spiritual Test: How Do We Know?

The after-death communication test is, for many, a deeply personal one. While some look for undeniable proof, others lean into their experiences with faith and openness. It's essential to approach these experiences with an open heart but also a discerning mind, recognizing the profound impact of grief and our innate desire for connection.

In Closing: My Journey Beyond the Veil

I first heard of Induced After-Death Communication just a few weeks before the first anniversary of my brother’s sudden and tragic death. I devoured everything I could find about it, and was disappointed to learn there wasn’t a therapist in my area who could conduct a session.

Now, what I did next isn’t something I am even remotely qualified to do, nor is it something I am qualified to suggest anyone else do: I tried it on myself.

I had done EMDR and bilateral stimulation (tapping) in the past in a therapeutic setting, so I read everything I could find to prepare, then I set out on a little adventure.

Just like is suggested in the book, Induced After-Death Communication, written by its founder Alan Botkin, I searched for the most upsetting aspect of my sadness. It wasn’t difficult to uncover, and I began tapping either thigh, over and over, as I plumbed the depths of this core sadness. When I felt the sadness alleviating, after about 20 minutes of pretty uncomfortable ugly crying, I settled down and closed my eyes.

And immediately, I felt my brother.

I didn’t see him, and I didn’t “hear” him, but I felt him and I received a message from him. It wasn’t like words that were written or spoken, but rather a full concept that occurred to me all at once:

I’m okay. You’re okay. Everything is okay.

I had already settled down quite a bit by then, but whatever sadness or. tension remained in my body completely left at that point, and, as I was to find out over the next days and weeks, so did the worst of my grief.

I don’t know if it was a combination of the anniversary and my desire to turn a page in my bereavement journey, or if IADC, as it’s called, is a miracle straight from the divine, but ever since that day I have not felt the ragged, raw, tugging depths of grief. Instead, I feel momentary sadness and a little pull of regret every once in awhile. I think about my brother every day. EVERY. DAY. But the pain has been replaced with a simple and neutral knowing.

It’s okay. I’m okay.

What a miracle.

The idea of an afterlife wasn’t something I was comfortable even considering, much less discussing, before my brother died.

But then everything changed in a terrible instant.

Humans have built entire religions, philosophies, and cultures around what might exist beyond this life. However, even though (or perhaps because) I was raised in a religious home, skepticism more often outweighed belief for me. That was the standpoint I held the day before my brother died, viewing the afterlife as a comforting myth rather than a potential reality. But a journey through the corridors of the Near Death Experience Research Foundation (NDERF) changed everything for me.

Introduction to Near-Death Experiences

Before delving into the personal accounts that transformed my perspective, it's essential to understand what near-death experiences (NDEs) are. Often occurring when someone is on the brink of death, NDEs are profound personal experiences associated with death or impending death. These can encompass a variety of sensations including detaching from the body, moving through a tunnel, or being immersed in light.

NDEs have been reported across cultures, with threads of similarity tying them together, but also unique aspects influenced by individual beliefs, cultural backgrounds, and personal experiences.

The Significance of the Greyson Scale

To understand the depth and authenticity of NDEs, Dr. Bruce Greyson developed the Greyson Scale. This 16-item questionnaire is meticulously designed to gauge the intensity of a near-death experience. From out-of-body experiences to the clarity of consciousness, this scale is the yardstick by which many NDE stories are measured. In the vast ocean of NDE accounts, the Greyson Scale serves as an invaluable compass.

The 16 components of the Greyson Scale are as follows:

Altered Time Perception: Time, for many who experience NDEs, seems to distort—either accelerating or decelerating.

Accelerated Thought Processes: Individuals have described their thoughts racing at unprecedented speeds.

Life Review: Scenes from one's past play out vividly, often evoking deep emotions or new perspectives.

Sudden Insight: An overwhelming understanding or revelation about life, relationships, or the universe at large.

Peaceful Sensations: An enveloping sensation of serenity and calmness that contrasts starkly with the often traumatic events leading to the NDE.

Elation: Intense feelings of happiness or joy, transcending any prior earthly experience.

Universal Harmony: A profound sense of unity or interconnectedness with the universe, often described as feeling 'at one' with everything.

Blinding Brilliance: Many recount an encounter with an intensely bright light, often associated with feelings of warmth and love.

Heightened Senses: Sensory experiences become magnified or more vivid than one has ever known.

Extrasensory Awareness: A newfound perception allowing individuals to sense events or emotions from afar, reminiscent of ESP.

Foresight: Some individuals report viewing scenes or events that seem to predict the future.

Out-of-Body Experience: A pronounced feeling of detachment from the physical body, often accompanied by a vantage point from outside oneself.

Unearthly Realms: Venturing into spaces or dimensions that feel vastly different from our world, filled with unique colors, terrains, or atmospheres.

Mystical Encounters: Meetings with entities or presences that feel divine or otherworldly, or even hearing voices that don't seem to have a discernible source.

Visions of the Departed: Many describe reunions with deceased loved ones or even encounters with figures from religious texts.

The Final Threshold: This might be a river, a fence, or some other boundary indicating a point beyond which there is no return.

Each of these facets is ranked on a scale ranging from 0 to 2 based on the depth of the experience. A cumulative score is determined, and typically, a score of 7 or above suggests a genuine NDE. Nonetheless, the scale and the very concept of NDEs continue to spark debates and intrigue, as the mysteries of life and death remain largely uncharted.

Stories that Resonate

These five stories are the ones that changed my orientation to the afterlife from disinterested doubt to a calm acceptance. I’ve added small synopses below them, but I encourage you to clickthrough to each story’s NDERF entry for the full picture.

1. Doug C.

Doug's account is not just a tale of the afterlife; it's a philosophical exploration. The car accident that almost claimed his life instead opened the doors to an alternate reality. In this place, there was no concept of time, only infinite consciousness. Every thought had the power to manifest. Doug’s return to the living world was with a renewed belief in interconnectedness. His narrative compels us to ponder our existence and the universe's infinite mysteries.

2. Sandi T.

Sandi's ethereal journey paints a picture of an afterlife rich in emotion, color, and sound. The overwhelming sense of unconditional love she felt raises questions about the nature of love in our earthly lives. How does our human experience of love compare with this divine, boundless emotion? Sandi’s story encourages a deeper exploration of love, both in life and beyond.

3. April W.

April's NDE stands out. Triggered not by a brush with death but by deep meditation, she voyaged to a place where she felt an indescribable oneness with the universe. This account beckons readers to look within and understand the power of human consciousness. It's a testament to the idea that you don't always need external events to transcend; sometimes, the portal lies within.

4. Roger C.

Encountering higher beings, receiving divine wisdom, and understanding one's earthly purpose is a lot to process. Roger's experience was a deep dive into the soul, an intense reflection on life and its myriad challenges. His narrative serves as a beacon of hope, reminding us that struggles are temporary, and a greater cosmic understanding awaits.

5. Mohammad Z.

Mohammad's narrative transcends religious boundaries. His experience, devoid of religious symbols, focused on love, acceptance, and knowledge. It's a testament to the idea that the divine might be more universal than our earthly religions suggest. This story serves as a bridge, encouraging interfaith dialogue and mutual respect.

Common Themes and Unique Insights

Each of these accounts, while distinct, carries certain commonalities: the feeling of unconditional love, the sense of oneness, and an enhanced consciousness. But they also bear unique elements, shaped by personal experiences and cultural backgrounds. These stories are both a mirror and a window—reflecting universal human experiences while offering a peek into the vast, unknown expanse of the afterlife.

What’s also noteworthy is the impact these NDEs had on the individuals. Almost unanimously, those who've had these experiences return with a decreased fear of death, an increased sense of purpose, and a deeper spiritual understanding. Their testimonies challenge our materialistic worldviews, urging us to consider the spiritual and metaphysical aspects of existence.

Personal Reflections on Faith and the Afterlife

Before embarking on this journey through NDERF, my stance on the afterlife was one of skepticism. I had no need to dig any deeper, and that kept me pretty firmly — though lazily — in the non-believer camp. But these stories, rich in detail and emotion, have swayed my beliefs. They’ve opened a portal in me to another part of myself, a part that I believe is my soul, who has all of the answers and can rest easily and simply in the truth of my eternal nature. I am (as are you) a magnificent being. And when I came here to earth, to do something, though I’m not quite sure, that’s when I died. And I’ll be born again into my true home when I leave this body and return to The Source.

My brother’s death knocked the skepticism out of me. I just couldn’t mount anymore defenses, and suddenly I had to know: where did he go? It didn’t matter to me anymore what other people would think. I jumped with both feet into the deep end of spirituality and mysticism, because why wouldn’t I? I would do anything for my baby brother, and that includes rearranging my beliefs.

Love, it turns out, can command me to believe.

Today, I find myself a believer. The stories of near-death experiences have become a lighthouse in my spiritual journey, guiding me towards a more profound understanding of life, death, and everything in between.

The NDERF platform, combined with the Greyson Scale's validation, provides a treasure trove of insights into the afterlife. While we may never have definitive answers until we cross that bridge ourselves, these beautiful near-death experiences offer hope, understanding, and a sense of wonder about the great cosmic dance of life and death.