Merkabah

[Skarekrow]

There are a myriad of reasons people commit suicide. For instance take the woman with Cotard Delusion, if she had killed herself it wouldn't be because she wasn't strong enough to live, but because she couldn't see any difference between life and death. Apathy and depression are extremely hard to fight against, it's like bashing your head against a wall of blubber. There's no give and after a while death seems like the only real option.

I came across an account of a couple that murdered their children and then committed suicide. They left behind a note which explained, very rationally and calmly, why they did this. They were financially ruined and headed to prison due to outstanding debts. Their children would likely face life on the street (this was in the 19th century where there were few options for orphaned children) and either succumb to illness or worse. So they made the most logical choice they could.

I once believed that people who commit suicide are weak and selfish, but I've come to realize that it's rarely so simple.

Edit:

Just realized I didn't answer your question, but rambled on. Suicide would be extremely difficult if you like being alive and have only minor psychological problems. Otherwise, I don't believe it's about strength or weakness.

I agree with you…I just wanted to see what other people thought.
I know personally what it’s like to face oblivion…to think you might just blink out and cease to be…or worse, that you DO in fact get punished for all eternity for cutting your wrists…your only hope that whatever God is up there has pity and mercy on you. To face those possibilities and to still choose to go through with it because you are in so much mental, psychological, and emotional turmoil is very familiar to me.
I will never call someone who killed themselves weak…because doing so goes against the very core fiber of a person.

An interesting thought though…I have been studying NDEs as of late…listing to quite a few accounts of what transpired…anyhow, not all NDEs are pleasant for the person.
They broke it down…the first was the void.
Just about everyone who has an NDE goes into the void…there is nothing…only your consciousness…it can be quite frightening for some…some actually come to believe that their whole existence, their life, themselves, everything, is a great big lie….can you imagine how devastating that is for someone?
The second was where they fight against what is happening, and the moment they give in it becomes a positive experience.
The third was your classical view of “Hell” (but note, most were unaffected themselves)
The last and least likely is a negative judgmental scenario.

Suicides were the group that had the most of the negative type scenarios…but most of them still had positive experiences.

I’m sure there is no good answer looking there, but I found it interesting nonetheless
Perhaps they were shown what they needed to see at that time in their lives?

Anyhow…way off topic….sorry.

 

[Skarekrow]

My favorite poem as a child.

 

[Skarekrow]

Rupert Sheldrake - The Science Delusion BANNED TED TALK

[video=youtube_share;JKHUaNAxsTg]http://youtu.be/JKHUaNAxsTg[/video]

The War on Consciousness- Graham Hancock at TEDxWhitechapel

[video=vimeo;61808955]http://vimeo.com/61808955[/video]​

 

[Skarekrow]

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s … super-psi!
By, Michael Prescott

Most people who look at mediumship and related phenomena in depth and with an open mind eventually reach the conclusion that non-paranormal explanations simply don’t cover all the evidence.
Fraud and mistaken observation do account for some of the cases, but not for the strongest ones.

Nevertheless, the hypothesis of survival after death is not the only one that has been put forward to explain the data.
A rival hypothesis is that of so-called “super-psi,” the idea that the medium’s unconscious mind is able to extract information from a variety of sources, integrate it into a consistent whole, and present it in the guise of the appropriate discarnate personality.

The idea has been dubbed super-psi because, while relatively straightforward instances of telepathy and clairvoyance have been demonstrated repeatedly in the laboratory, nothing so elaborate and far-reaching has been proven to exist.

If the super-psi hypothesis is correct, then the unconscious minds of at least certain gifted individuals have extraordinary capabilities; and there is probably no reason to think that the same capabilities are not latent or dormant in the rest of us.

Our unconscious, then, would have the ability (actually or potentially) to reach at will into other minds, regardless of how widely scattered they might be, and even if the minds in question belong to total strangers, people of whose existence we were and are consciously unaware.

Moreover, our unconscious would have the ability to perceive, through clairvoyance, information unknown to any living person, peeking into hidden places without restriction and virtually instantaneously, on demand.

It has even been hypothesized that the unconscious could peer back in time–retrocognition–or gaze into the future–precognition–in order to obtain additional information.

And all of this extraordinary power would be deployed in the service of a charade—the illusion of communication with a specific deceased personality that has, in reality, ceased to exist.

Even the medium herself would have not the slightest idea that her unconscious mind was carrying on this amazing deception on a colossal scale.

What would be the motivation of the unconscious to undertake such a feat?
It has been argued that the natural, all-too-human fear of death is so deep-seated that the unconscious will go to any lengths to suppress it, even to the extent of conducting a remarkably elaborate ruse.

Now, if all this is true, then the unconscious mind is an almost infinitely greater thing than the conscious mind.
Unlike the conscious mind, the unconscious would not be bound by material limits and would be able to interact with all other unconscious minds, as well as with the material world, deriving nuggets of information from a vast array of sources, past, present, and future.

In effect, all the unconscious minds of the living would function very much like one giant unconscious that is constantly interacting with itself–a global mind spanning the species, which our ordinary waking minds would remain completely unaware of.

Yet, if this were the case, it’s hard to understand why the deception would continue, or would ever have been necessary in the first place.
Yes, apparent conversations with the deceased may provide some comfort and allay the fear of death–but wouldn’t it be far more comforting, persuasive, and useful for the unconscious simply to reveal the full range of its powers?

Not only would this be of immense practical value in our earthly life, assisting us with all sorts ofd mundane difficulties and vastly enhancing our survival chances, but it would seem to hold out a reasonable probability of some kind of afterlife.

As has often been observed, if the mind has such phenomenal power and scope, and is not subject to material constraints, then there seems to be no good reason why it could not survive the death of the body.

The nearly limitless potential of the unconscious hypothesized by the super-psi idea–a mind that transcends time and space–ought to be far more reassuring and empowering than merely exchanging reminiscences, often of a trivial nature, with the shades of our departed loved ones.

Why, then, would this global mind of ours be so secretive and duplicitous?
Why would it use its enormous powers to dupe us into believing a childish lie?
Why would it keep our own potential concealed from us, babying us with fantasies when the truth is so much greater?

Frankly, I just don’t see it.
To me, the super-psi theory is fatally flawed.

But if we accept the best mediumistic evidence and reject super-psi, we seem to be left with postmortem survival as the only alternative.
At least, I can’t think of another option.

Survival appears to be the only explanation that accounts for all the known facts; and it has the additional advantages of being the most parsimonious theory and the one that mediums themselves–who after all might be expected to have some idea of what they are doing–are most prone to believe.

 

[Skarekrow]

6 Amazing Things Scientists Have Discovered About Psychedelics

Psychedelics have the potential to treat cancers, addiction and psychological trauma.

​

Despite the fact that the U.S. government deems many hallucinogenic or psychedelic substances to be dangerous, classifying them as Schedule I drugs with “no currently accepted medical use,” various scientists have dared to study their effects.
What they’ve found over the years paints a startling, promising and powerful picture of potentially game-changing medicines.

The government’s "war on drugs" policies severely limit research on psychedelics.
Before scientists can complete any federally sanctioned studies, they have to jump through an expensive tangle of hoops and red tape.

Restrictions aside, over the years researchers have collected a database of research showing that many psychedelics have an unprecedented potential to treat cancers, addictions and psychological traumas, among other things.

Here are some of the coolest things scientists have discovered about psychedelics over the years.

1. LSD can mitigate end-of-life anxiety.

The results of the first clinical study of the therapeutic use of LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) in humans in more than 40 years were published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease in March.
They show that LSD can promote statistically significant reductions in anxiety for people coming to terms with their own impending demise.

Swiss psychiatrist Peter Gasser and his colleagues conducted the double-blind, placebo-controlled study, sponsored by the non-profit Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS).

They tracked 12 people who were near the end of life as they attended LSD-assisted psychotherapy sessions.
In his report, Gasser concluded that the study subjects’ anxiety "went down and stayed down."

2. Psilocybin, aka magic mushrooms, actually calms, rather than stimulates, certain brain functions.

The common conception is that psychedelics do something extra to cause their effects–increase activity, add hallucinations, promote awareness, etc.
A study that examined brain scans of people under the influence of psilocybin found that it reduces activity in certain areas of the brain.

That reduction of activity leads to the drug's effect on cognition and memory.
Psychedelics, and psilocybin in particular, might actually be eliminating what could be called the extra "noise" in the brain.

3. The drug MDMA (aka ecstasy, or Molly) promotes release of the "love" hormone oxytocin, which could help treat severe anxieties like PTSD and social anxiety resulting from autism.

Before the federal government classified it as a Schedule I substance, therapists experimented with MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxyrnethimphetarnine) beginning in the 1970s to help reduce moderate depression and anxiety among their adult patients.

After widespread recreational use in the rave scene caught the attention of authorities, MDMA was criminalized in 1985.
However, research primarily supported by the MAPS has continued to turn up positive results for the drug’s potential therapeutic use.

Various clinical trials and statistical research have confirmed that MDMA can successfully treat post-traumatic stress in military veterans and others.
One exampleis the clinical trial led by Michael Mithoefer, which used MDMA-assisted psychotherapy to treat chronic PTSD.

A 2009 study offers a plausible explanation for MDMA’s effectiveness treating PTSD.
The double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of 15 healthy individuals confirmed that MDMA causes the brain to release oxytocin, which is the human hormone linked to feelings of love and compassion.

MAPS recently received government approval to launch a new study examining MDMA’s potential for treating social anxiety in autistic adults.
Based on the known effects of MDMA, as well as individual reports, this exploratory study will focus on enhancing functional skills and quality of life in autistic adults with social anxiety.

4. Psilocybin could kill smoking addiction.

Psychiatry professor Matthew Johnson, who works at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, presented the preliminary results of a pilot feasibility study looking at the ability of psilocybin to treat smoking addiction at the 2013 Psychedelic Science conference in Oakland, Calif.

For the study, five cigarette-addicted participants underwent placebo-controlled psilocybin treatment with a psychiatrist.
All five completely quit smoking after their first psilocybin session.

At all followup visits, which occurred up to one year later for the first four participants, it was biologically confirmed that the participants had abstained from cigarettes.

5. Ayahuasca can treat drug addiction and possibly much more.

Ayahuasca is a brew prepared with the Banisteriopsis caapi vine, originally used for spiritual and healing purposes in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest.
The vine is usually mixed with leaves containing the psychedelic compound DMT.

Gabor Mate, a medical doctor from Vancouver who is a prominent ayahuasca researcher,contends that therapy assisted by psychedelics, and ayahuasca in particular, can untangle complex, unconscious psychological stresses.
He claims these stresses underlie and contribute to all chronic medical conditions, from cancer and addiction to depression and multiple sclerosis.

The results of the first North American observational study on the safety and long-term effectiveness of ayahuasca treatment for addiction and dependence were published in June 2013 in the journal Current Drug Abuse Reviews.

All of the participants in the study reported positive and lasting changes, and the study found statistically significant improvements “for scales assessing hopefulness, empowerment, mindfulness, and quality of life meaning and outlook subscales.

Self-reported alcohol, tobacco and cocaine use declined, although cannabis and opiate use did not.”
The reported reductions in problematic cocaine use were also statistically significant.

6. DMT occurs naturally in the human body, and taking it could simulate death.

The drug DMT (diemethyltryptamine), which causes hallucinogenic experiences, is made up of a chemical compound that already occurs within the human body endogenously (as well as in a number of plants).

This means our brains are naturally set up to process the drug because it has receptors that exist specifically to do so.
Cannabis is another illegal drug that occurs endogenously.

Some research based on near-death experiences points to the fact that the brain releases DMT during death.
Some researchers have also conjectured that DMT is released during other intense experiences, including orgasm.

 

[Skarekrow]

Elizabeth Gilbert: Your elusive creative genius | TED Radio Hour on NPR

Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses -
- and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person "being" a genius, all of us "have" a genius.
It's a funny, personal and surprisingly moving talk.

[video=youtube;cWBsQPbmFmg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cWBsQPbmFmg[/video]​

 

[Skarekrow]

Revenge and the people who seek it
New research offers insight into the dish best served cold.
By Michael Price
Monitor Staff

​

Historically, there are two schools of thought on revenge.
The Bible, in Exodus 21:23, instructs us to "give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot" to punish an offender.

But more than 2,000 years later, Martin Luther King Jr., responded, "The old law of 'an eye for an eye' leaves everybody blind."

Who's right?
As psychologists explore the mental machinery behind revenge, it turns out both can be, depending on who and where you are.

If you're a power-seeker, revenge can serve to remind others you're not to be trifled with.
If you live in a society where the rule of law is weak, revenge provides a way to keep order.

But revenge comes at a price.
Instead of helping you move on with your life, it can leave you dwelling on the situation and remaining unhappy, psychologists' research finds.

Considering revenge is a very human response to feeling slighted, humans are atrocious at predicting its effects.

The avengers

Social psychologist Ian McKee, PhD, of Adelaide University in Australia, studies what makes a person seek revenge rather than just letting an issue go.
In May 2008, he published a paper in Social Justice Research (Vol. 138, No. 2) linking vengeful tendencies primarily with two social attitudes: right-wing authoritarianism and social dominance, and the motivational values that underlie those attitudes.

"People who are more vengeful tend to be those who are motivated by power, by authority and by the desire for status," he says. "They don't want to lose face."

In his study, McKee surveyed 150 university students who answered questions about their attitudes toward revenge, authority and tradition, and group inequality.

He found that the students whose answers showed a deference to authority and respect for traditions and social dominance, had the most favorable opinions about revenge and retribution.

Those personalities, McKee says, "tend to be less forgiving, less benevolent and less focused on universal-connectedness-type values."

There's also a cultural dimension to people's predilection for revenge, says revenge researcher Michele Gelfand, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park.

She and her collaborators Garriy Shteynberg and Kibum Kim have found that different events trigger the revenge process in different cultures; American students feel more offended when their rights are violated, whereas Korean students feel more offended when their sense of duty and obligation is threatened, they show in a paper in the January Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology.

That distinction could fuel intercultural conflicts when one side seeks vengeance for a slight the other didn't even know it committed.

For example, an American might be more likely to seek revenge on someone who impinges on his or her right to voice an opinion, whereas public criticism that embarrasses a Korean in front of his or her friends might be more likely to trigger revenge feelings.

Gelfand has also found that collectivists are more likely than individualists to avenge another's shame.
To collectivists, shame to someone with a shared identity is considered an injury to one's self, she explains.
As a result, she says, "revenge is more contagious in collectivist cultures."

"You just don't realize those situations are construed [by the other culture] as very important and self-defining," Gelfand says.
The emotions that fuel revenge may differ across cultures as well, says Gelfand.

In her studies, she has found that anger often drives the vengeful feelings of people in individualistic cultures, while shame powers revenge in collectivist ones.

The revenge paradox

Ask someone why they seek revenge, though, and they're likely to tell you their goal is catharsis, says Kevin Carlsmith, PhD, a social psychologist at Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y.

But exactly the opposite happens, according to a study he published in the May 2008 Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (Vol. 95, No. 6).

In a series of experiments, he and his colleagues Daniel Gilbert, PhD, at Harvard, and Timothy Wilson, PhD, at the University of Virginia, set up a group investment game with students where if everyone cooperated, everyone would benefit equally.
However, if someone refused to invest his or her money, that person would disproportionately benefit at the group's expense.

Carlsmith planted a secret experimenter in each group and had them convince everyone to invest equally.
But when it came time to put up the money, the plants defected.

The free riders, as Carlsmith calls them, earned an average of $5.59, while the other players earned around $2.51.

Then Carlsmith offered some groups a way to get back at the free rider: They could spend some of their own earnings to financially punish the group's defector.
"Virtually everybody was angry over what happened to them," Carlsmith says, "and everyone given the opportunity [for revenge] took it."

He then gave the students a survey to measure their feelings after the experiment.
He also asked the groups who'd been allowed to punish the free rider to predict how they'd feel if they hadn't been allowed to, and he asked the non-punishing groups how they thought they'd feel if they had.

In the feelings survey, the punishers reported feeling worse than the non-punishers, but predicted they would have felt even worse had they not been given the opportunity to punish.

The non-punishers said they thought they would feel better if they'd had that opportunity for revenge—even though the survey identified them as the happier group.

In other words, both groups thought revenge would be sweet, but their own reported feelings agreed more with MLK Jr. than with Exodus.

The results suggest that, despite conventional wisdom, people—at least those with Westernized notions of revenge—are bad at predicting their emotional states following revenge, Carlsmith says.

The reason revenge may stoke anger's flames may lie in our ruminations, he says.
When we don't get revenge, we're able to trivialize the event, he says.

We tell ourselves that because we didn't act on our vengeful feelings, it wasn't a big deal, so it's easier to forget it and move on.
But when we do get revenge, we can no longer trivialize the situation.

Instead, we think about it. A lot.
"Rather than providing closure, it does the opposite: It keeps the wound open and fresh," he says.

Revenge or justice?

If revenge doesn't make us feel any better, why do we seek it?
Carlsmith describes one evolutionary hypothesis, suggested by German psychologists Ernst Fehr, PhD, and Simon G¨echter, PhD.

"Punishing others in this context—what they call 'altruistic punishment'—is a way to keep societies working smoothly," Carlsmith says. "You're willing to sacrifice your well-being in order to punish someone who misbehaved."

And to get people to punish altruistically, they have to be fooled into it.
Hence, evolution might have wired our minds to think that revenge will make us feel good.

Another possibility might be that certain groups and societies—such as those in largely lawless Somalia or in areas of the Middle East where tribal rule holds more sway than the national government—are more prone to seek revenge because there's just no other way to obtain justice, says McKee.

"By and large, these types of impulses have arisen and still exist where there's no recourse to law," he says.
That can apply to cultures without a functional legal system, he says, or in groups that operate outside the law, like gangs and the Mafia. "They have to rely on their own retaliatory methods," he says.

Some of these cultures might not even experience the negative emotional backlash Carlsmith found in his study.
In her experience, Gelfand says, cultures that place a high value on revenge offer more social support to avengers.

But by looking into what motivates revenge, and by increasing our knowledge about how revenge makes us feel, it might be possible to combine the best aspect of justice and revenge.

For example, McKee studies ways that institutional punishment can merge with victim's wishes to participate in that punishment.
Victim impact statements, where victims are allowed to describe their ordeal and offer input on an offender's sentencing, have become common in U.S., Australian and Finnish courts.

That can partially satisfy a victim's vengeful feelings while also putting the responsibility for punishment on the state, protecting the victim from the rumination trap Carlsmith describes.

"Then victims sort of get the best of both worlds," McKee says.

 

[Skarekrow]

Fantastic...

First hint of 'life after death' in biggest ever scientific study

Southampton University scientists have found evidence that awareness can continue for at least several minutes after clinical death which was previously thought impossible

Some cardiac arrest patients recalled seeing a bright light; a golden flash or the Sun shining
​

Death is a depressingly inevitable consequence of life, but now scientists believe they may have found some light at the end of the tunnel.

The largest ever medical study into near-death and out-of-body experiences has discovered that some awareness may continue even after the brain has shut down completely.

It is a controversial subject which has, until recently, been treated with widespread scepticism.

But scientists at the University of Southampton have spent four years examining more than 2,000 people who suffered cardiac arrests at 15 hospitals in the UK, US and Austria.

And they found that nearly 40 per cent of people who survived described some kind of ‘awareness’ during the time when they were clinically dead before their hearts were restarted.


One man even recalled leaving his body entirely and watching his resuscitation from the corner of the room.

Despite being unconscious and ‘dead’ for three minutes, the 57-year-old social worker from Southampton, recounted the actions of the nursing staff in detail and described the sound of the machines.

“We know the brain can’t function when the heart has stopped beating,” said Dr Sam Parnia, a former research fellow at Southampton University, now at the State University of New York, who led the study.

“But in this case, conscious awareness appears to have continued for up to three minutes into the period when the heart wasn’t beating, even though the brain typically shuts down within 20-30 seconds after the heart has stopped.

“The man described everything that had happened in the room, but importantly, he heard two bleeps from a machine that makes a noise at three minute intervals. So we could time how long the experienced lasted for.

“He seemed very credible and everything that he said had happened to him had actually happened.”

Of 2060 cardiac arrest patients studied, 330 survived and 140 said they had experienced some kind of awareness while being resuscitated.

Although many could not recall specific details, some themes emerged.

One in five said they had felt an unusual sense of peacefulness while nearly one third said time had slowed down or speeded up.

Some recalled seeing a bright light; a golden flash or the Sun shining.

Others recounted feelings of fear or drowning or being dragged through deep water.

13 per cent said they had felt separated from their bodies and the same number said their sensed had been heightened.

Dr Parnia believes many more people may have experiences when they are close to death but drugs or sedatives used in the process of rescuitation may stop them remembering.

“Estimates have suggested that millions of people have had vivid experiences in relation to death but the scientific evidence has been ambiguous at best.

“Many people have assumed that these were hallucinations or illusions but they do seem to corresponded to actual events.

“And a higher proportion of people may have vivid death experiences, but do not recall them due to the effects of brain injury or sedative drugs on memory circuits.

“These experiences warrant further investigation. “

Dr David Wilde, a research psychologist and Nottingham Trent University, is currently compiling data on out-of-body experiences in an attempt to discover a pattern which links each episode.

He hopes the latest research will encourage new studies into the controversial topic.

“Most studies look retrospectively, 10 or 20 years ago, but the researchers went out looking for examples and used a really large sample size, so this gives the work a lot of validity.

“There is some very good evidence here that these experiences are actually happening after people have medically died.

“We just don’t know what is going on. We are still very much in the dark about what happens when you die and hopefully this study will help shine a scientific lens onto that.”

The study was published in the journal Resuscitation.

Dr Jerry Nolan, Editor-in-Chief at Resuscitation said:

“Dr Parnia and his colleagues are to be congratulated on the completion of a fascinating study that will open the door to more extensive research into what happens when we die.”
​

 

[Skarekrow]

The Tunnel and the Near-Death Experience Part 1

​

One theory used to explain the near-death phenomenon has nothing to do with death at all.
It states that NDEs are actually memories of birth.

A baby being born leaves the womb to travel down a tunnel towards a light, and what waits for it in the light is usually a great deal of love and warmth.
What happens at the point of death is only a stored memory of what happened when life began.

Yet again there are a lot of points that don't match: a baby being born does not exactly float at high speed down a tunnel, but is buffeted along with difficulty by its mother's contractions.

And how does this model explain the meeting with friends and relatives who have died?

The Being of Light is supposed to be the midwife or the doctor who rules the delivery room - but many babies are born without a midwife or doctor present, or perhaps with many people present.

On a purely practical level, a baby's nervous system is not sufficiently developed to allow it to assimilate and store memories of the birth process.

Those who argue this theory say that the feelings of peace and bliss are a memory of the peace of the womb when all physical needs were met by the mother and there were no stresses and strains.

Why should this be any more likely than the feelings of peace and bliss are relief from the pain of illness and injury at the point of death?

However, being born is often not a pleasant experience for babies which leaves them crying as if in agony.

In contrast, NDEs are more often described as the most pleasurable experience a person can have.

The birth process is not pleasant.

1. Insights Into the NDE Tunnel Experience

One of the nine elements that generally occur during NDEs is the tunnel experience.
This involves being drawn into darkness through a tunnel, at an extremely high speed, until reaching a realm of radiant golden-white light.

Also, although they sometimes report feeling scared, they do not sense that they were on the way to hell or that they fell into it.
Instead of a tunnel, some people report rising suddenly into the heavens and seeing the Earth and the celestial sphere as they would be seen by astronauts in space.

Once on the other side of the tunnel, or after they have risen into the heavens, the dying meet people who glow with an inner light.
Often they find that friends and relatives who have already died are there to greet them. (Dr. Raymond Moody)

By analyzing a large number of NDE accounts on this website, a map of the various paths to heaven can be created.

Here are the paths I have found:

(1) The journey from the Earth to the earthbound realm.

(2) The journey from the Earth to the void.

(3) The journey from the Earth to the void and then to heaven. (by means of a tunnel)

(4) The journey from the Earth to heaven. (by means of a tunnel)

(5) The journey from the Earth to the earthbound realm, then to the void, then to heaven.

(6) The journey from the Earth to the void, then through the tunnel to a heavenly receiving station in heaven. (Kevin Williams)

In his book, Life At Death, Dr. Ken Ring analyzed the near-death experiences of 24 people who attempted suicide. Among them, no one reported the tunnel phenomenon. (Dr. Ken Ring)

[Webmaster's Note: Many experiencers observe a gray or foggy area in the void where people who have committed suicide reside until they make an important decision. My analysis suggests that the main way out of the void is through the tunnel. And this fact from Dr. Ring supports my research conclusion that suicide experiencers have not gone through the tunnel because they have not yet made the decision that would take them through the tunnel and into higher spirit realms.]

"The way to escape the void is to choose love and light over the darkness. Once this happens, the light appears and the tunnel takes you toward the light and into heaven for further instruction." (Kevin Williams)

"The dark tunnel is described in many ways, such as being like a cave, a well, an enclosure, a funnel, a vacuum, a void, a sewer, a valley, or a cylinder." (Dr. Raymond Moody)

In 45 Hindu near-death accounts, Pasrich and Stevenson found no evidence of a tunnel experience which is frequently found in western accounts of the near-death experience. However, another near-death researcher, Susan Blackmore, has reported accounts of a tunnel experience in her research of 8 Hindu near-death experiencers. (Hindu NDEs)

"One fact about the differing perceptions that people have can be demonstrated when several witnesses observe the same event, such as an automobile accident, and the witnesses' testimonies are not the same. One particular NDE example I have read illustrates the differing perceptions that experiencers can have of the same event. This particular example involves the tunnel experience. Most people describe their experience of traveling through the tunnel as a very beautiful and pleasant experience. However, one particular person (I cannot remember the name or the source) went through the tunnel kicking, screaming, and trying to grab the edges of the tunnel to prevent from going through it. This particular person was completely horrified by the tunnel experience. This is also a good illustration of how one man's heaven can be another man's hell. And beauty is in the eye of the beholder." (Kevin Williams)

Dr. Ronald Siegel is the distinguished expert in psychopharmacolgy at UCLA. He is one of the leading experts in the field of hallucinogens and an ardent skeptic of the consciousness survives death theory. Dr. Siegel explains his theory of what causes the famous tunnel perspective in NDEs:

"This is probably due to the stimulation of the central nervous system that mimics the effects of light on the retina. It can also occur when the electrical activity in the brain is altered in such a way that the threshold for perception of phosphenes (electrical activity in the visual system) is lowered, and bright lights are seen in otherwise dark surroundings. This point can create a tunnel perspective." (Dr. Ronald Siegel)

"The tunnel experience after death may create the recollection of birth." (Elisabeth Kubler-Ross)

"Going from a waking state or semi-waking state into an amorphous state is usually the most dramatic kind of spiritual travel experience. In one type of amorphous transition, the traveler suddenly senses a powerful vibration or sound and is caught up in that energy. This is sometimes accompanied by a feeling of being drawn or propelled by this vibration at tremendous speed through a dark space. This experience seems very similar to the descriptions of the tunnel associated with near-death experience. Numerous people who came very close to death (no heartbeat or respiration) have near-death experiences where they have described different types of sounds or vibrations which propelled them at seemingly great speed through a dark tunnel or corridor." (Robert Monroe)

"It's not quite the same, because when you astral project, you don't have to go through the white light, or a tunnel. When you project, you usually go right where you would like to go, right away." (Jerry Gross)

"In the tunnel connecting this world with the next, humans as well as animals travel through the tunnel." (Sharon Wood)

"The tunnel in the NDE is the pathway to God." (Brian Krebs)

"The tunnel is a porthole to the place where all souls go if they choose." (David Oakford)

2. Brief Encounters With the NDE Tunnel

"As I looked up, there was a tunnel - a light - an opening. It was glowing. Around that opening were many people milling around." (Anne Horne)

While Warmack was in a coma in the hospital when he became aware of something "in the back of me, like a beam of light, brighter than the sun, brighter than any light I had ever seen." He traveled through a tunnel and felt that he was traveling back in time. (Warmack)

"Suddenly I was standing alone in a room with large, heavy doors leading into other rooms. Someone came to me. I didn't see him; I only heard his voice. He led me up through what seemed like a tunnel. I seemed to be walking, but my feet didn't touch a floor." (Clara)

"Upon death, most people go through a heavenly process before entering into heaven. Evil people, instead of experiencing the tunnel and bright light upon death, are sent through what Sylvia calls the left door and enter into an abyss of empty, joyless, nothingness for a brief period of time ... Most people, who go through the heavenly process, go through a tunnel and towards the light of God." (Sylvia Browne)

"I was spinning sideways somehow through this tunnel. At first it was very dark, then it seemed like there was these streaks. I was falling but I wasn't. I was traveling. That's maybe more the word. There was this big white light at the end of it. I kind of came out into this." (Paul Carr)

"For a while, I watched on as the nurses and doctors worked quickly to revive me. Then, I lost interest and my attention turned towards a long dark tunnel. At the end of the tunnel was a very bright light and I floated to the opening. Once inside, I moved with what seemed to be an extraordinary and effortless speed, and finally reached the light." (Nadia McCaffrey)

"I asked to see the rest of the universe; beyond our solar system, beyond all human illusion. The light then told me that I could go with the Stream. I did, and was carried through the light at the end of the tunnel. I felt and heard a series of very soft sonic booms. What a rush!" (Mellen-Thomas Benedict)

"I remember closing my eyes. I am in this long dark tunnel. It is so cold and so dark. I have never been in a place so cold as this tunnel. I was traveling at the speed of light. As I neared the end of the tunnel, I saw the most brilliant yellow light coming toward me. I was beginning to feel warm. The nearer the light got, the warmer I felt." (Beth Hammond)

"Then I began to float upwards and I realized I was having to make a decision. It was almost a physical two-way pull. There seemed to be no ceiling above me, just a black hole into which I was being compelled by a very strong force. It seemed as if I was to make a decision as to which way I would choose to go - up into the tunnel or back into my body." (Caroline Sharp)

"I saw a pinpoint of light in the distance. The black mass around me began to take on more of the shape of a tunnel, and I felt myself traveling through it at an even greater speed, rushing toward the light. I was instinctively attracted to it, although again, I felt that others might not. As I approached it, I noticed the figure of a man standing in it, with the light radiating all around him". (Betty Eadie)

"I asked God how could I possibly return back down the tunnel and back into my hospital bed. He spoke and said, 'Son, tilt your head, now feel the liquid drain from your eye. Now open your eye and see.' And I was immediately back in my physical body." (Ian McCormack)

Right then, she said she felt herself being sucked away into a tunnel at a fast pace. Then she was flying so fast through this dark tunnel. She then stopped midstream in it and was in this dark tunnel. She never saw a light at all. She heard this voice say to her, "If I let you go back what will you do with your life?" She responded back to this voice, "I will dedicate my life to you." She knew this overpowering, loving presence was GOD himself asking her this question. She never saw him - only heard him. He then showed her pictures of her future helping others and other things like a movie screen showing her future. Then she felt this swoosh back through the tunnel and back into her body. (Lisa Marie)

In 1982, while a Fellow for the National Cancer Institute, Dr. Melvin Morse was working in a clinic in Pocatello, Idaho. He was called to revive a young girl who nearly died in a community swimming pool. She had had no heart beat for 19 minutes, yet completely recovered. She was able to recount many details of her own resuscitation, and then said that she was taken down a brick lined tunnel to a heavenly place. When Dr. Morse showed his obvious skepticism, she patted him shyly on the hand and said, "Don't worry, Dr. Morse, heaven is fun!." (Dr. Melvin Morse)

"Suddenly, I found myself in another dimension. A glowing golden tunnel appeared in front of me. Far, far into the tunnel, almost as if at its distant opening, stood a man dressed in a splendid golden robe ... The Master continued his invitation, but he was so far away. I wanted to fly to him. I knew that this was possible; it was simply a matter of making the decision ... Exiting my body would be an easy choice. I would float through this glorious tunnel and seek the answers the Master had to offer. Yet, just as I slipped into the tunnel something pulled me back. While I was surrendering to the marvelous force that had come to claim me, the hospital staff had worked to pull me out of my coma with massive doses of cortisone. I remember nothing after the tunnel experience until three days later." (Marilyn Gibson)

"Then I remember a very powerful force pulling me towards a serene, very beautiful realm, a higher realm. I traveled very slowly along a tunnel toward a bright light, and I could feel an overwhelming sense of warmth and peace and whiteness. I wanted to walk into the whiteness, which was so tranquil and happy. It was like stepping into a vacuum, there was nothing tangible, no scenery to look at, but a tremendous feeling of being somewhere, like nirvana. I felt okay, as though this was where I was meant to be, as if I had arrived home, and I was at ease with myself for the first time in a long time." (Helen)

"Then I found myself in what appeared to be a large tunnel with a small white light at the other end. I was moving toward this light pretty fast. I was surrounded by a feeling of absolute peace and what I can only describe as unconditional love. It felt wonderful to be there. As I moved towards the light, I was aware of two presences near to me. They were telling me by thought alone that it was not my time. I had to go back. We were communicating just by thoughts back and forth to each other. I knew these presences knew me, but I did not know them. I had never met them before. Then I was moving quickly back down through the tunnel and into my body." (Enigma)

"I started to move toward the light. The way I moved, the physics, was completely different than it is here on Earth. It was something I had never felt before and never felt since. It was a whole different sensation of motion. I obviously wasn't walking or skipping or crawling. I was not floating. I was flowing. I was flowing toward the light. I was accelerating and I knew I was accelerating, but then again, I didn't really feel the acceleration. I just knew I was accelerating toward the light. Again, the physics was different - the physics of motion of time, space, travel. It was completely different in that tunnel, than it is here on Earth. I came out into the light and when I came out into the light, I realized that I was in heaven." (Barbara Springer)

"I then remember traveling a long distance upward toward the light. I believe that I was moving very fast, but this entire realm seemed to be outside of time. Finally, I reached my destination. It was only when I emerged from the other end that I realized that I was no longer accompanied by the being who had brought me there. But I wasn't alone. There, before me, was the living presence of the light ... My mind was naked; in fact, I became pure mind. The ethereal body which I had traveled in through the tunnel seemed to be no more." (Beverly Brodsky)

"I then felt myself moving off very fast, exceedingly fast, into what seemed like outer space. I always felt that it was the fact of going so fast that gave me the sense of being in a tunnel. And I was going toward a very bright light. As I was traveling along I could see different-colored lights, and then I got stopped, just stopped before I got to the light." (Janet)

"As a massive field of energy began to form in the sky directly in front of me, I heard a loud, grinding mechanical noise as the mass of energy shaped itself into a cylinder funneling upwards. It seemed as if the darkness of the sky turned into liquid as the mass of energy curled like an ocean wave and formed a perfect tunnel that stretched into the heavens. As I stared into the large and imposing tunnel of energy, a shimmering, luminescent-blue field of energy began to float down the tunnel toward me. As it rapidly approached, I watched the luminescent-blue field mass into a form and begin to materialize into an image of a human being. As the image composed itself, I found myself face to face with an old friend." (Ned Dougherty)

"A dot of light appeared far off in front of me. It was just a pinpoint, a tiny speck in the distance, but its brilliance distinguished it from all other lights around me and I instinctively pressed towards it. Emanating from it was a love and hope and peace that my soul hungered for. I wanted, I needed this brilliant, radiant light. The black tube took the shape of a tunnel now, opening up as I neared its end. The light burst forth before me, filling everything with brightness, and I was coming upon it impossibly fast. 'Oh, my gosh,' I thought, 'It's brighter than the sun. It'll blind me! It'll kill me!'" (RaNelle Wallace)

"A tunnel was forming, opening like the eye of a hurricane and coming toward me. I actually didn't move at all; the tunnel came to me. There was the sound of chimes as the tunnel spiraled toward and then around me. Soon there was nothing to be seen - no crying Sandy, no ambulance attendants trying to jump-start my dead body, no desperate chatter with the hospital over the radio - only a tunnel that engulfed me completely and the intensely beautiful sound of seven chimes ringing in rhythmic succession. I looked ahead into the darkness. There was a light up there, and I began to move toward it as quickly as possible. I was moving without legs at a high rate of speed. Ahead the light became brighter and brighter until it overtook the darkness and left me standing in a paradise of brilliant light." (Dannion Brinkley)

Randy approached a dark tunnel. When he held back and said that he was afraid to go into the darkness, the angel smiled and told them that this was the only way that they could get to their destination. "I could see a bright light at the far end of the tunnel, so I said, 'All right, as long as you don't let go of my hand!' She laughed and said, 'I told you that I would never leave your side. I have been with you ever since you were born. In fact, I was there at your mother's side when you were born. I am your guardian angel.'" Randy asked her what her name was. "We don't have names in the manner that you mean," she said, "but if it makes you feel better to call me something, you may call me, Areo (ah-ree-o)." The tunnel did not prove to be such a terrible ordeal after all. Randy and Areo seemed to whoosh through it quickly. (Randy Gehling)

"Suddenly, I had to move on, so I floated into the waiting room, where my parents were. My father had his head buried in my mother's lap. He was kneeling at her feet, his arms wrapped around her waist, and he was sobbing. My mother was stroking his head, whispering to him. This scene shocked me, as my father was not prone to showing emotions. Once I realize they would be fine, I felt myself pulled into a horizontal tunnel. The ride through the tunnel was like nothing else. I remember thinking, 'So this is death.' The tunnel was dark, and every once in a while something that looking like lightning would flash across my path. These flashes were brilliant in color and didn't scare me. At the end of the tunnel was a bright light. From the light came two dogs of mine. One was a collie named Mimi who had died three years previously from an infection, and the other was a box named Sam who had died two years before after being hit by a car." (Lynn)

 

[Skarekrow]

The Tunnel and the Near-Death Experience Part 2


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3. Extraordinary NDE Tunnel Experiences

Thomas Sawyer's NDE Tunnel Experience: "In this capacity, though, I was looking at absolute nothingness or darkness but my eyes were not straining. I had the desire to look around inquisitively. What is this place? Where am I? Well, again instantaneously, this darkness took the shape of a tunnel. It was perfectly level, however slightly ambiguous in that it was straight before me and it was cloud-like. It was very vast, as opposed to small and confining, and was anywhere from a thousand feet to a thousand miles wide. That didn't matter to me but I want to give you some reference point. I was very comfortable and inquisitive. It was cylindrical. If you took a tornado and stretched it out straight, it would be similar to that, without the houses and the doors floating around inside. It absolutely extended to infinity. This measurement of infinity was the first empirical knowledge that I had within my near-death experience. Simultaneously with the awareness of this tunnel, I had a feeling of forward motion; it was very comfortable, it was very usual. Moving through this tunnel there was an acceleration. There was not any wind vibration, nor any noise. There was no motion sickness or anything like that. It was like floating within a vacuum. I saw that I was increasing speed, but there were no g-forces of the kind you would naturally experience in accelerating movement. I went faster and faster through the tunnel. The next empirical knowledge I had was that I had attained at least the speed of light or conceivably faster. Whisking through the tunnel at this speed, I had the depth perception, the visual perception of the tunnel whisking past me (or I through the tunnel). The next thing is that way, way off in the distance to infinity there appeared this little speck of light. That light was very special; it was the first identifiable object that I was able to focus on, to realize that it was nothing like what I'd seen before. It was extremely bright. This speck of light was brighter than something that would immediately blind you. It was brighter than a million billion carbon arcs, or welder's torches, anything you can possibly compare it to. It was the brightest thing I'd ever seen in my life. There was a tremendous eager anticipation because this was the first thing that wasn't blurry or ambiguous. The appearance of this light way off at the end of the tunnel brought me a sense of great love and a feeling of camaraderie. That was something extraordinary, greater than anything that I'd experienced during my thirty-three years of life. It was utter beauty.

"The light was way off in the distance and got larger as I got closer to it. I was eager to get closer to the light. I was still Thomas Sawyer, with all of my personality and characteristics, yet here I was, separate from the light by just a spatial measurement of visual connotation. Now being at the end of the tunnel and standing before the light, it seemed that it covered the entire vista before me. It was more beautiful than I've tried to describe, because I could use all the superlatives, and then I'd have to say: but it was more. I had never experienced anything that divine. It was white, possibly, blue-white, but certainly white. It was paradoxically absolutely everything. It included Thomas Sawyer. It included the tunnel that was behind me. It included the entire universe that I was ever aware of. It was absolutely, positively, everything. It was also absolutely the most beautiful thing that I've ever seen, that I've ever been near or experienced. The light I am describing is whatever most people would describe as God. That's the description. It meant the same to me as the word God. It was in fact the light of Jesus Christ. From the onset of this rather super-conscious state of the darkness of the tunnel, there was something that was totally missing, and that was what we call time. There's no such thing as time in heaven! The chronology of my accident is as I told you: there was the darkness, I was moving through the tunnel, and there was a light at the end of the tunnel. There was then a confrontation with the light at the end of the tunnel whatever more. That's the chronology in that order ... I know that I experienced a total life review, but I have never been able to fit it properly into any of that basic chronology. It had to have happened from the center of the tunnel or the movement within the tunnel, prior to what I call the confrontation with the light ... What happened when I went through the tunnel? Did I see the face of Jesus Christ? Yes, I did. But the most important thing that I have been able to say is probably the aspect of total knowledge ... At first it just seemed like a foggy grayness about me. As the speed of my upward and outward movement increased, the enclosing fog seemed to have a bright ending at the distance. I remember at the early moments of moving ahead through this enclosure a brightness to my left where I could see through the cloud-like tunnel. Beyond the walls of my tunnel was a shimmering, glowing light ...My tunnel structure thinned along the sides but the light ahead was beckoning me. I was intensely attracted to reaching the light. As the sides of the tunnel became clearer, the light ahead became brighter and closer as my speed increased." (Thomas Sawyer)

Rev. Howard Pittman's NDE Tunnel Experience: "Suddenly we came to a most beautiful place. I know that I've already reported how terrible that second heaven was, so you can imagine how surprising it was to find anything beautiful over there. God would not allow me to retain the memory of why this place was so beautiful. I do remember that it was the most beautiful place I'd ever seen. This place looked like a tunnel, a roadway, a valley or some sort of highway. It had a most brilliant light all its own and was completely surrounded with an invisible shield. I knew that the invisible shield was the protection of the Holy Spirit. Walking in this tunnel, or along that roadway, or valley, or whatever, was what appeared to be human beings. I asked my escort who they were. He told me, 'They are saints going home.' These were the departed spirits of Christians who had died on Earth and they were going home. Each of these saints was accompanied by at least one guardian angel and some had a whole host of angels with them. I wondered why some saints were accompanied by only one angel and others had many. I was watching as the saints passed through the way that all saints must take to go home. Here it was, the passageway from Earth to the third heaven. Instead of allowing me to enter, the angel stationed me before the gates, slightly to one side. He instructed me to stay there and watch as the saints were permitted to enter into heaven. As the saints were allowed into heaven, I noticed a strange thing. They were permitted to enter only one at a time. No two were permitted to enter those gates at the same time. I wondered about this but it was never explained to me. When the last of the fifty saints had entered into the third heaven, I started to enter but my escort stopped me. He told me that if I entered I could not come out and that I would have to stay there until the Father brought me back. The angels told me that all who enter the third heaven must remain there until brought back to this physical world by Christ himself. When the angel said I could not enter unless I stayed." (Rev. Howard Pittman)

Dr. Dianne Morrissey's NDE Tunnel Experience: "As soon as I saw that the silver cord was attached to my physical body, my spirit body was thrust into a dark tunnel. I moved through it with great speed, traveling faster than I could have imagined possible. Although the tunnel was filled with an all consuming darkness, I felt peaceful and unafraid ... When I came to the end of the darkness, I stepped into a new dimension. Here, I could sense the presence of a loving spirit, sent - I knew - to God to greet me. Then, I was back at the site of my physical body. Back and forth I traveled through the tunnel, several times in succession, moving from the Other Side to my electrocuted physical body and back again. Each time I emerged from the tunnel, I was met by a radiant angelic being who stood before me, smiling. The being had no wings, and I sense it was female. She was everything I'd ever dreamed an angel would be. As she moved toward me, I walked to meet her ... Suddenly, my spirit body was back in tunnel. Again, when I emerged from the tunnel, the angelic being was waiting for me ... I was suddenly thrust forward through the tunnel, and when I looked down, I was aghast to see my physical body below me ... What mattered to me was the light. I wanted the light. I was again thrust forward through the tunnel. The angelic being was still there, waiting for me to truly decide about my life, waiting for me to decide about death, waiting for me to decide about my future ... For some reason, however, the angelic being sent me into the tunnel again, back and forth through many tunnels. I wondered why. I still wanted to 'touch,' but I wanted the light - both desires tugging at my spirit ... I finally found myself back in my house ... Suddenly, I was rushing through the tunnel again. When I emerged, I was up near the ceiling in the den, looking down at my physical body below me. Then, without warning, I was thrust swiftly back into my body." (Dr. Dianne Morrissey)

Edgar Cayce's NDE Tunnel Experiences: "I see myself as a tiny dot out of my physical body, which lies inert before me. I find myself oppressed by darkness and there is a feeling of terrific loneliness. Suddenly, I am conscious of a white beam of light, knowing that I must follow it or be lost. As I move along this path of light I gradually become conscious of various levels upon which there is movement. Upon the first levels there are vague, horrible shapes, grotesque forms such as one sees in nightmares. Passing on, there begins to appear on either side misshapen forms of human beings with some part of the body magnified. Again there is change and I become conscious of gray-hooded forms moving downward. Gradually, these become lighter in color. Then the direction changes and these forms move upward and the color of the robes grows rapidly lighter. Next, there begins to appear on either side vague outlines of houses, walls, trees, etc., but everything is motionless. As I pass on, there is more light and movement in what appear to be normal cities and towns. With the growth of movement I become conscious of sounds, at first indistinct rumblings, then music, laughter, and singing of birds. There is more and more light, the colors become very beautiful, and there is the sound of wonderful music. The houses are left behind; ahead there is only a blending of sound and color. Quite suddenly I come upon a Hall of Records. It is a hall without walls, without ceiling, but I am conscious of seeing an old man who hands me a large book, a record of the individual for whom I seek information."

On another occasion, Cayce's tunnel experience was described this way: "Cayce felt himself to be a bubble traveling through water to arrive at the place where he always got the information."

On yet another occasion, Cayce's tunnel experience was described this way: "Cayce went up and up through a very large column, passing by all the horrible things without coming in contact personally with them, and came out where there was the house of records. Cayce stated that as he ascended the column, there would be beings on either side of him calling out to him for help or trying to get his attention. Cayce knew that any deviation from the column and the beam of light would mean he would not be able to return to his body. It, the column, wound around on a wheel like the Rotarians have. Cayce mentioned that he felt very secure traveling that way." (Edgar Cayce)

Kevin Williams' Analysis of Cayce's NDE Tunnel Experiences: "Edgar Cayce did not experience clinical or brain death, but he was able to control his mind to travel consciously through the identical process of the near-death state. This can be done by anyone, according to Cayce, if the proper attunement is made. Cayce also mentions that this is done by everyone when they fall asleep and enter the realm of dreams, only it is done subconsciously not consciously. The same is true for death. Cayce's experience reveals more aspects about the nature of the tunnel so often described in near-death experiences and more about the structure of the afterlife. One of the afterlife levels that Cayce observed while in the tunnel appears to be like our own except it is motionless. In my opinion, this motionless afterlife level is our physical universe. While Cayce journeys through the tunnel and the eternal now, time on Earth stands still. This principle can even be found in Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity. The afterlife level Cayce sees where human beings appear with some body part magnified has been described in the Tibetan Book of the Dead and other religious traditions as being hell. It is a place where a particular desire has been overemphasized while in physical life. The level where hooded monk-like beings appear has also been described by many other near-death experiencers such as Dr. George Ritchie and Betty Eadie. Cayce was able to describe very accurately some of the various levels of the afterlife that appear in near-death accounts." (Edgar Cayce)

Virginia Rivers' NDE Tunnel Experience: "Immediately the blackness began to erupt into a myriad of stars and I felt as if I were at the center of the universe with a complete panoramic view in all directions. The next instant I began to feel a forward surge of movement. The stars seemed to fly past me so rapidly that they formed a tunnel around me. I began to sense awareness, knowledge. The farther forward I was propelled the more knowledge I received. My mind felt like a sponge, growing and expanding in size with each addition. The knowledge came in single words and in whole idea blocks. I just seemed to be able to understand everything as it was being soaked up or absorbed. I could feel my mind expanding and absorbing and each new piece of information somehow seemed to belong. It was as if I had known already but forgotten or mislaid it, as if it were waiting here for me to pick it up on my way by. I kept growing with knowledge, evolving, expanding and thirsting for more. It was amazing, like being a child again and experiencing something brand new and beautiful, a wonderful new playground. As each second passed, there was more to learn, answers to questions, meanings and definitions, philosophies and reasons, histories, mysteries, and so much more, all pouring into my mind. I remember thinking, 'I knew that, I know I did. Where has it all been?' The stars began to change shapes before my eyes. They began to dance and deliberately draw themselves into intricate designs and colors which I had never seen before. They moved and swayed to a kind of rhythm or music with a quality and beauty I had never heard and yet ... remembered. A melody that humans could not possibly have composed, yet was so totally familiar and in complete harmony with the very core of my being. As if it were the rhythm of my existence, the reason for my being. The extravagance of imagery and coloration pulsed in splendid unison with the magnificent ensemble. I felt completely at peace, tranquilized by the vision and the melodic drone. I could have stayed in this place for eternity with this pulse of love and beauty beating throughout my soul. The love poured into me from all corners of the universe. I was still being propelled forward at what seemed great speed. Yet I was able to observe all that I passed as if I were standing still. Each passing second I was absorbing more and more knowledge. No one spoke to me, nor did I hear voices in my head. The knowledge just seemed to BE and with each new awareness came a familiarity. A tiny pin point of light appeared far in front of me at the other end of my kaleidoscopic tunnel. The light grew larger and larger as I was soaring closer and closer to it, until finally I had arrived at my destination." (Virginia Rivers)

Pam Reynold's NDE Tunnel Experience: "There was a sensation like being pulled, but not against your will. I was going on my own accord because I wanted to go. I have different metaphors to try to explain this. It was like the Wizard of Oz - being taken up in a tornado vortex, only you're not spinning around like you've got vertigo. You're very focused and you have a place to go. The feeling was like going up in an elevator real fast. And there was a sensation, but it wasn't a bodily, physical sensation. It was like a tunnel but it wasn't a tunnel. At some point very early in the tunnel vortex I became aware of my grandmother calling me. But I didn't hear her call me with my ears ... It was a clearer hearing than with my ears. I trust that sense more than I trust my own ears. The feeling was that she wanted me to come to her, so I continued with no fear down the shaft. It's a dark shaft that I went through, and at the very end there was this very little tiny pinpoint of light that kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger. The light was incredibly bright, like sitting in the middle of a light bulb ... My grandmother didn't take me back through the tunnel, or even send me back or ask me to go. She just looked up at me. I expected to go with her, but it was communicated to me that she just didn't think she would do that. My uncle said he would do it. He's the one who took me back through the end of the tunnel. Everything was fine. I did want to go ... It was communicated to me that it was like jumping into a swimming pool. No problem, just jump right into the swimming pool. I didn't want to, but I guess I was late or something because he [the uncle] pushed me. I felt a definite repelling and at the same time a pulling from the body. The body was pulling and the tunnel was pushing ...It was like diving into a pool of ice water ... It hurt!" (Pam Reynolds)

Plato's NDE Account of the Solder Named Er and His Tunnel Experience: "When his soul went forth from his body he journeyed with a great company and that they came to a mysterious region where there were two openings side by side in the Earth, and above and over against them in the heaven two others, and that judges were sitting between these, and that after every judgment they bade the righteous journey to the right and upward through the heaven with tokens attached to them in front of the judgment passed upon them, and the unjust to take the road to the left and downward, they too wearing behind signs of all that had befallen them, and that when he himself drew near they told him that he must be the messenger to humanity to tell them of that other world, and they charged him to give ear and to observe everything in the place ... From the other tunnels came souls preparing for reincarnation on Earth. From above came souls happily reporting delights and visions of a beauty beyond words. From below came souls lamenting and wailing over a thousand years of dreadful sufferings, where people were repaid manifold for any earthly suffering they had caused." (Plato)

Diego Valencia's NDE Tunnel Experience: "Suddenly, my mind was allowed to rest in a quiet place in order to further ascend through a translucent tunnel with a light that seemed rather a yellowish opacity. Then I saw many beings, some ascending, some descending. Two of them were known to me on the Earth realm and I had not seen them for more than 20 years. I also met people unknown to me then, whom I met many years later in their bodies on the Earth realm. I asked one of the two persons I did know, what he was doing there, and he told me he had had a very serious health problem, and almost died, but the health problem had already been solved by the doctors. This is the reason he was going back to his body. Nevertheless, another friend who was a friend of my family for many years, was leaving the Earth realm in a definite way, so was I told.Then came some guides to take the friend who had been ill, back to Earth through a tubular shape in descent. I also observed other tubular shapes through which other souls were ascending, and among them, the lady known to me and my family whose body had died. I inquired if the lady could go back but they said her time was over and that she had definitely left her body. I felt the energy of the lady perturbed, because she was confused since she did not know she was dead, but I avoided meeting her. In that moment my guides smiled. A different lap started in which the path was transparent, silent and compliant. I felt the pleasure of having my conscience in total calm, together with the tender but distant company of the guides and other entities which I could not see. Suddenly I saw another path where all the dead members of my family appeared, among them my father." (Diego Valencia)

Robert Coleman's NDE Tunnel Experience: "I was being propelled across a vast distance. I dare not look straight ahead, but I remember looking at the wall flashing past me as I sped along some kind of tunnel. Then, at the other end of this journey, I felt a most beautifully reassuring sense of calm. I looked down at myself in my new form. I had taken on a golden glow. I did not need to walk. I floated. Everything about me was love, goodness and warmth. Suddenly, I felt as if I had been given access to the total knowledge of the universe. I stared at a huge dark wheel containing stars and other celestial bodies that slowly revolved. A deep voice spoke slowly, but I could not make out what it was saying. I was at some kind of entrance ... I had to promise solemnly not to try to return. I agreed. Once more, I stood in front of the great dark disk again. As the stars and shapes slowly revolved, a deep voice said slowly, 'Your time has not yet come.' I felt all the wisdom that I had suddenly gained was being forced out from me. I knew I could not take this knowledge back with me, but was concerned that I might lose what limited intelligence I already had before I died. Then, once again I was in the long tunnel, feeling the wind against my cheek as I looked away and saw the long wall rushing past me." (Robert Coleman)

[Webmaster's Note: The great dark disk may be the entrance to the tunnel. Other experiencers have seen the tunnel in the same kind of thing in their NDEs.]

Reinee Pasarow's NDE Tunnel Experience: "At this point I became aware that there was a light calling me from somewhere else and I entered what people speak of as the tunnel. I will speak of it as that although I did not quite perceive it as a tunnel. It was a transition place where I became aware of other beings who seemed to be rather disoriented, rather confused and lost and some of these beings were moving through to their home. I simply wanted to go home. I moved through this place and I became aware that I was not moving like we move physically. When we move physically we have an intent, we have a goal, and we move step by step to that goal. But what moved me through this place was love. It was the love of God and the love all things sacred and all things beautiful and all things just. I could go on and on and on but this was what propelled me on. It was my connection and my affection for God. As I came to the end of this place, I wondered if I would be alone, and just like that I was with my uncle ..." [After her life review, the Being of Light told her, "It was not time for her to enter that world." She then described returning to her physical body.] "I was catapulted back down what I perceived to be a tunnel. This time it was down a rainbow tunnel of light, sound and vibrational frequency of love. With a terribly hard crash, I became aware of the scene I had left earlier - the fire trucks, and now an ambulance. There were men who were picking up my body and loading it into the ambulance. I was in a state of complete grief. I felt that I had become Eve and was cast out of the garden of Eden. As I was descending down this tunnel, my heart was already attached to my home beyond. I was begging not to leave. I crashed down into this realm of existence and was suddenly confused by time and space ... I was being propelled across a vast distance. I dare not look straight ahead, but I remember looking at the wall flashing past me as I sped along some kind of tunnel. Then, at the other end of this journey, I felt a most beautifully reassuring sense of calm. (Reinee Pasarow -- Watch her video online: www.lightafterlife.com)

Lou Famoso's NDE Tunnel Experience: "I entered what I thought looked like the Holland tunnel without the cars and traffic and the ability to see what looked like light at its end. It was dark but not black. The path was slightly illuminated from what I thought to be the sunlight shining from the other end. As I was being drawn toward the lighted end of the tunnel, I carefully looked around, even squinting to see into the darker recesses. I passed what I thought to be very religious men doing what they would do when praying to their GODS. They were all dressed in their finest garbs, robes, togas, head dresses, loin cloths and the like. Most of them were off to the sides of the tunnel, but one of them, that I seemed to float right over, looked oriental with a long grayish Fu Man Chu, sitting there in the middle of the tunnel with his hands clasped and his feet crossed ... When I floated past the monk just below me, I thought he could actually see me because it appeared like he began to smile a smile of passage. All the other religious men were mumbling sounds of prayer and were moving their arms about as if making gestures of a blessing. I wasn't sure if they were blessing me or the tunnel. I noticed none of them were actually standing or sitting in the tunnel but appeared to be levitated. I wanted to stop and speak with some of them, maybe ask a few questions like who they were and how long have they been here, but I was being whisked away toward the light. I saw wisps of smoke I believed to be incense. It came from all portions of the great tunnel from one end to the other. I could see and smell, but I had yet to have the sensation of touch since my feet were never touching the tunnels floor. I seemed to be traveling squarely in the center as I drifted toward the end. The closer I got to the end of the tunnel, the brighter things got, and as I neared the end, it was like coming face to face with a huge canvas that was just recently blazed in the brightest white of whites. An empty canvas, ready to be painted upon and I awaited that painting ... The being told me that should I ever have questions of the heart or mind, he will answer them if I only look within myself, for that is where he will dwell. From this time forward I need only think it to be so, and it will be so, for I would forever know the truth ... I asked how I would know and before I received an answer I was being whisked away through that darkened tunnel like a dust bunny in a vacuum, with about as much control as a runaway freight train. A loving voice was telling me I must go back today. (Lou Famoso)

Gilles Bedard's NDE Tunnel Experience: "In the blink of an eye, my vision expanded and I went into a place like a cosmos where there were 12 people standing in a half-circle. They were all pure white lights and they had no faces. Beyond them was a tunnel. I wasn't afraid. I somehow knew these people although they weren't family or people I could recognize. It was as if they were waiting for me. I asked them what was happening, and they told me, 'You are not going to die. You are going back to Earth. You have something to do.' I asked them what it was, and as soon as I asked it was as if I knew the answer. They said I would know what I had to do when the time came. At that moment, I could sense the future and I realized I had the choice to do what I wanted to do. I felt pure peace. What I remembered most is the music I heard when I was out of my body. It was fascinating. It was hard to tell how long the experience lasted. It could have been five seconds or half an hour. When I came back into my body, it felt very small. But it was OK. I felt calm, very warm. When I came to, around 5 a.m., I felt ready for a party. It was as if nothing had happened to me. I didn't remember the experience at that time. But a month after I left the hospital, I had another one. During the night, I had a sensation of falling into a tunnel. Going into it, I knew I was about to die, but just before arriving at the end of the tunnel, I woke up. It was not a dream. It was real. And it was then that I remembered the earlier experience." (Gilles Bedard)

Don Brubaker's NDE Tunnel Experience: "There was a sudden whoosh, and I saw a large glowing red ball approaching me, almost like the light on the front of a train. In that instant, as the red ball rushed toward me, I knew terror like never before. As it approached, I realized that it was really a large, eerie red eye. It stopped when it got close to me, and then began traveling alongside me through the tunnel. I could hardly stand to look at it, its gaze was so piercing. It felt like it was looking right into my mind, into my very soul. Still I was plunging into the depths of this horrible tunnel. I glanced at the walls of the tunnel, walls of deep black whirring past me like video footage on fast forward. Yes, I was still there, still falling millions of miles into some terrible pit. And yet, there I was, lying deathlike on a hospital bed. I could see myself there, and it panicked me all the more. The eye - suddenly I realized that I was seeing the hospital room through the red eye. It was absurd to me that I hadn't realized this before - and yet I could hardly process my thoughts. It was all too bizarre. Panic started building in my mind as it began to dawn on me where I was, suspended in this dank tube. As the red eye glowered at me, the thoughts began to arrange themselves, coalescing slowly. Suddenly, the idea was undeniable. I was in hell. The realization swept over me like an ocean wave, unstoppable though I tried desperately to dismiss it. Hell! I didn't even believe in hell! And here I was? This was it? I had only the briefest moment to react to the thought when a deep, comfortable voice echoed through the tunnel." (Don Brubaker)

Lynnclaire Dennis' NDE Tunnel Experience: "It was then that I saw the tunnel and knew with absolute assurance that I was on my way home, certain that the home I had long yearned for was in the light at the other end of this passageway. As I was standing alone with my grandmother, she told me that I must make this part of the journey alone. Filled with peace, I knew I would see her again on the other side. I was ready, and without hesitation took my first step into the corridor that led toward the light, crossing an intersection that connected now with forever ... Once I was inside the tunnel it was as if someone at the other end was calling my name, drawing me forward. I knew that this passageway was taking me to the top of the mountain, leading me home into the light. I was overjoyed to be going to the summit, as all my life I had wanted to climb to the top of Mt. Rainier. I had never made the attempt, believing that I would try and fail, or that I would die trying. I moved effortless into the passage. Soon I knew I would be able to fly. Fly? The light was getting brighter and warmer as I moved through the tunnel. The MUSIC, the celestial symphony, continued to fill the air with a psalm of Oneness, played on unseen instruments of peace. I arrived at the pinnacle and, standing at the entrance to the light, took a single step, leaving my right footprint imbedded in Eternity. I entered a sacred space a place where I knew I had returned to my most essential nature, where I felt wholly and consciously united with all things and Source, where a soothing balm of peace was poured on my spirit by an unseen hand, an emollient so rich in love that to this day I cannot fully absorb or comprehend it." (Lynnclaire Dennis)

Susan Blackmore's OBE Tunnel Experience: Susan Blackmore traveled down a tunnel of trees toward a light, floated on the ceiling and observed her body below, saw a silver cord connecting her floating astral body, floated out of a building in England and crossed the ocean to New York. After hovering around New York, Blackmore floated back to her room in England where she became very small and entered her body's toes. Then she grew very big, as big as a planet at first, and then she filled the solar system and finally she became as large as the universe. Despite her experience, Blackmore believes the tunnel is caused by oxygen starvation, which causes certain cells in the brain, inhibitory cells, to die first, the excitable ones taking longer. (Susan Blackmore)

Susan Blackmore discusses drugs including her own experience: Under conditions of extreme tiredness and smoking hashish I had a NDE-type experience complete with the tunnel and light, out-of-body travels, expansion and contraction of size, timelessness, a mystical experience and the decision to return ...

A critic's reply: Blackmore uses her drug-induced experiences as the basis for her conclusions. I shall argue that Blackmore's confusion on the subject of NDEs is the result of her own drug-induced confusion -- which is not an uncommon occurrence. Blackmore uses her drug-induced experiences as the basis for her conclusions. I shall argue that Blackmore's confusion on the subject of NDEs is the result of her own drug-induced confusion -- which is not an uncommon occurrence.

Susan Blackmore discusses the NDEr passing through a tunnel of mental energy: "There are many serious problems with such a theory. If the other worlds are a part of this world then they cannot really account for the afterlife."

A critic's reply: "Such a conclusion proves false when we consider the reports of NDErs. They not only see ethereal energy patterns, they see this world, the world of operating rooms and other mundane settings."

Blackmore continues: "Something should be seen leaving the body and going into the tunnel. The tunnel itself would be present in physical space and we should be able to measure it or in some way detect its presence."

A critic's reply: "Yes, and that's why those skilled at observing the subtle energy that surrounds the spirit are able to perceive such things."

Blackmore comments: "Still we should not reject such theories out of hand just because they seem senseless. It is better to apply some criteria to them and see how they fare. Is this theory specific? No, not at all. The tunnels described are all different in precise form and this theory can say nothing about what forms they should or should not take."

A critic's reply: "Blackmore again looks at content, not underlying phenomena. The structure of specific tunnels is not in question, as has been stated, they are mental constructs, mental or ethereal energy patterns. As such they take many malleable forms. Blackmore fails to understand such mental energy is NOT confined to a brain, but rather is patterned energy that makes up a mind, not a brain." (Critic's email)

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[Skarekrow]

I realize this is a rather large post, but I find this incredibly fascinating…and this could potentially be helpful to you when you eventually die.
Many people who have had NDEs describe the first stop as being “The Void”…for some this is incredibly frightening and has had some devastating effects on some people who were shown that they didn’t exist…never did…never will….them, the universe, and consciousness is all an illusion.
Many have suggested that suicides end up in the void forever…while others think it as a purgatory before being taken further.
Anyhow, enjoy.

The Void and the Near-Death Experience

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This may be the one of most important articles you will read on this website.

The purpose of the void and how to escape it will be also be discussed.
This article concludes with a discussion of the spiritual struggle between light and darkness and what it means to the future of humanity.

Many near-death accounts involve a description of traveling through a realm commonly known in NDE circles as - the "void."
Together with the earthbound realm, the void is known by many religious traditions as hell, purgatory, or outer darkness to name a few.

There are many myths concerning this realm and it is my point to also dispel some of them.

1. Summary of Insights Concerning the Void

After death, some souls travel very quickly through the two lower realms - the earthbound realm and void - by means of the tunnel and on to higher realms.

Other souls, particularly those who have developed a strong addiction for some earthly desire that went beyond the physical and into the spiritual, may enter the earthbound realm in a vain attempt to re-enter Earth.

Many near-death accounts, as you will see later, involve souls entering the void immediately after death.

From here, the soul may then enter the tunnel toward the light in the next heavenly realm.

Other souls remain in the void for one reason or another until they are ready to leave it.

The general consensus among near-death reports is that the void is totally devoid of love, light, and everything.
It is a realm of complete and profound darkness where nothing exists but the thought patterns of those in it.
It is a perfect place for souls to examine their own mind, contemplate their recent Earth experience, and decide where they want to go next.

For some souls, the void is a beautiful and heavenly experience because, in the absence of all else, they are able to perfectly see the love and light they have cultivated within themselves.

For other souls, the void is a terrifying and horrible hell because, in the absence of everything, they are able to perfectly see within themselves the lack of love and light they have cultivated within themselves.

For this reason, the void is more than a place for the reflection of the soul.
For some souls, it is a place for purification. In the latter case, the void acts as a kind of time-out where troubled souls remain until they choose a different course of action.

For some souls, the time spent in the void may feel like only a moment.
For others, it may seem like eternity.

This is because the way to escape the void is to choose love and light over the darkness.
Once this happens, the light appears and the tunnel takes them toward the light and into heaven for further instruction.

For those souls who either refuse the light or have spent a lifetime ignoring the light, it may take what seems like eons of "time" before they reach the point that they desire the light of love.

The problem for many souls is that they prefer the darkness rather than the light for one reason or another.
For some of these souls, their only hope is reincarnation.

This is because it is not possible for any soul to be confined in the earthbound and void realms forever.
It suggests that God/source/? is infinitely merciful and would never abandon anyone to their own spiritual agony for too long; however, God/source/? allows souls to remain there only as long as it suits their spiritual growth.

The void is not punishment. It is the perfect place for all souls to see themselves and to purge themselves from all illusions.
For those souls who are too self-absorbed in their own misery to see the light, there are a multitude of Beings of Light nearby to help them when they freely chose to seek them.

The nature of love and light is such that it cannot be forced upon people who don't want it.
Choosing love/light over darkness is the key to being freed from the void.

The moment the choice is made, the light and tunnel appears and the soul is drawn into the light.

2. The Nature of the Void

As mentioned earlier, nothing exists in the void except your own thought patterns and the thought patterns of others. In the absence of light, souls tend to group together according to the vibration of their souls. In the void, the darkest of human nature can be found there if you desire to seek it. However, even souls in the darkest of the darkness are not without hope.

The following is an excellent general explanation of the nature of the void by Arthur Yensen: "Those who are too bad go to a realm of lower vibrations where their kind of thoughts can live. After death, people are drawn into groups according to their rate of soul vibrations. If the amount of discord within a person is small, it can be eliminated by God so that only the good remains and they are welcomed into heaven. However, if the amount of discord is too high, eliminating it cannot be done because they would be annihilated. So, the person will gravitate to a lower realm and live with their own kind. Each person lives in the kind of a heaven or hell that they have prepared for themselves while on Earth. High vibrations indicate love and spiritual development, while low vibrations indicate debasement and evil. Without a physical body, feelings of hate and fear are intensified as souls vainly try to hide from their enemies. (Arthur Yensen)

The rest of this section will focus on important characteristics of the void such as:

• There is no love there.
• There is no light there.
• There are degrees of darkness with edges that are foggy.
• There are ignorant souls there which many people would consider to be evil.
• Human souls that committed suicide can be seen in the foggy edges.
• Non-human creatures can be found there, including creatures not found on Earth.
• Beings of light are nearby to help tormented souls.
• Religious references to the void.
• Profound examples of people who experienced the void.

3. Love Does Not Exist in the Void

The only love that exists in the void is the love you bring into it.
The void itself has no love or light and because of this, the only way to leave the void and enter the higher realms is by choosing love.

The moment love is desired, the light appears as if summoned.
Most near-death accounts describe very brief encounters with the void, if any at all.

It is probably true that most people choose love over darkness, much like most people choose to remain out of prison.
God/source/? does not force anyone out of the void.

The way to heaven must be earned through cultivating and bearing the fruits of love and light.
This is the key to getting out of the void and into heaven.

The following near-death accounts describe the loveless nature of the void.

"While in second heaven - the void - Howard Pittman felt an overwhelming oppressive feeling and wondered what was causing it. He was told that it is because there is no love there." (Rev. Howard Pittman)

"In the void, your only source of stimulation will be your own thoughts." (Robert Monroe)

Carter Mills was shown that hell is a black blankness without God. (Carter Mills)

4. Light Does Not Exist in the Void

Light and love is God/source/?.
Because of this, it's influence in the void is limited because darkness rules in the void.

In the same manner, the influence of darkness (spiritual ignorance) on Earth is limited because light rules on Earth.
And light cannot be forced upon people.

But once light/love is chosen by the soul, the soul's stay in the void is ended.
The problem is that many souls have not realized divine love and light within themselves while on Earth.

This makes it difficult to leave the void.

The following description of the second stage after death by Emanuel Swedenborg is a remarkable description of the void:

"Immediately following death, there is a period of self-discovery in which the social masks worn on Earth dissolve away and the true self is revealed. Each soul then shapes their own situation to correspond with their real inner nature. The second stage after death is where people learn the inward things that belong to their mind and their true selves. Everyone is directed into this stage after death because it is the actual state of the spirit. If a soul was inwardly involved in goodness while in the physical world, they will behave rationally and wisely at this stage. If a soul was inwardly involved in evil while in the physical world, they will behave senselessly and crazily. Once their outward matters are taken away from them, their madness is unveiled. People who are thinking about divine matters while they are active on Earth are in touch with angels of heaven. It is a life of love, a life of behaving honestly and fairly in every task, that leads to a heavenly life. This life is not hard." (Emanuel Swedenborg)

The following is a description of the void from the revelations of Edgar Cayce who referred to the void as outer darkness - a term that can be found in the Bible.

"After death, we may enter a region that is void of love, life, and light, void of everything. For some, this region is approximately their wish come true. Here they are truly alone with themselves. For some souls, this is a pain that is unbearable. In the absence of truth, love, gentleness, and kindness, some souls fill the void with an irrational and unbelievable amount of pain and fear. It is so dark in the realm of outer darkness that the darkness hurts and panic grips them without knowing why. There are various degrees of darkness to this realm, and it is darker and denser at the center than at its outer fringes. The closer we are to the outer edges, the more interaction there is with others in the realm. The closer to the center, the darker and more painful is the solitude. Those who find themselves in outer darkness cannot travel across this dimension. They must grow through the levels of this realm. After death, one may find themselves in a particular degree of darkness that most closely corresponds to the degree of the absence of love in one's life. Outer darkness is not a punishment. It is a region which operates lawfully for the benefit of those who are there. This region is not a realm which was created for any soul to experience, but one which came about as a consequence of the negative activity of souls in creation. So great has been the desire for self, so monumental across time and space has been the selfishness of some of God's creatures, that this realm is the creation or manifestation of their own collective activities. Outer darkness and the reality with which it is associated were created and are held in place by collective self-interest. (Edgar Cayce)

5. The Foggy Edges of the Void

Many near-death accounts describe a realm that is shadowy, grayish, and foggy. This is the outer edge of the void. The following are near-death accounts that describe this foggy region.

Howard Storm was led from a dark, foggy realm by ignorant souls to a realm that would get darker and darker. At some point Storm refused to go any further. They they tore Storm to pieces. (Rev. Howard Storm)

"People who have deliberately chosen to live debased or cruel lives and have turned their backs on the light of God find themselves in a state similar to groping in a dark and depressing fog. Everyone there is wrapped up in his own cruel thinking. These souls wander around in this lost state until they, of their own volition, make an attempt to turn toward the light of God. Some may be lost for eons of time." (Margaret Tweddell)

"All around me was a gray, cloud-type, thick fog. It had texture. The closer I approached the light I became aware of a fundamental sense of purity. "(Chris Taylor)

"I was aware of being surrounded but I didn't know by what or by whom. At first it just seemed like a foggy grayness about me. As the speed of my upward and outward movement increased, the enclosing fog seemed to have a bright ending at the distance." (Grace Bubulka)

6. Ignorant Souls in the Void

Souls become trapped in the void for various reasons.
Virtually any earthly desire that becomes so obsessive that it goes beyond the physical and extends into the spiritual, has the ability to prevent people from realizing the divine love and light within them.

Any negative thought process cultivated on Earth can be manifested to its fullest extent in the void.

The void is the best place for those who entertain such negative desires and thoughts because they are able to fully realize the hellish nature within themselves and perhaps seek something different.

Jesus led George Ritchie to a dark realm where angry souls were locked into hand to hand combat and trying in vain to hurt each other. George discovered that this was hell. (Dr. George Ritchie)

Howard Storm was forced by a mob of unfriendly beings toward some unknown destination in the darkness. At some point they started to inflict upon Storm a wild orgy of frenzied hand to hand combat. It was only by crying out to God that Storm is removed from there. (Rev. Howard Storm)

"This is an example of a murderer who deliberately kills another person for personal gain or satisfaction. Full of hatred or vengeance, he expects to find nothing after death, and for a long time that is what he finds - nothing. Then he discovers that the hell he had every reason to expect is indeed awaiting him. It is not goblins and devils that he sees, but visions of his own face distorted by hatred, greed, malice, and other defeating emotions. He cringes from the sight, realizing that he sees himself this way. He is appalled as he realizes that he wasted a lifetime of opportunity. This soul will stay in torment for a long, long time, until he believes himself to be totally lost. When he eventually reaches this pit of despair, he may at last cry out to God to rescue him and that wail of despair is heard by God. Other souls are sent to ease his suffering, and if his will is truly uplifted toward spiritual development, he will slowly, slowly, slowly begin to work himself upward until he has learned the penalties for taking another's life which was given by God." (Ruth Montgomery)

7. Suicidal Souls in the Void

The fact that suicidal souls are seen in the gray foggy edges of the void, the least painful part of the void, suggests to me that God shows special mercy to them. Not all souls who have committed suicide find themselves stuck in the void as you will see below.

One of Dr. Kenneth Ring's research subjects attempted suicide and experienced a gray area. It was here that his fear was gone and he felt an adventurous feeling of excitement. He had a feeling of hope that there's something better somewhere else. He heard a woman's voice and was drawn to it but something held him back. Eventually, he returned to his body. His experience in the grayness was decidedly pleasant and very positive and powerful in its emotional impact. (Dr. Kenneth Ring)

Dr. Kenneth Ring's research concluded that suicidal NDEs tend to be truncated, aborted, and damped down. It begins with a feeling of relief or peace and continues with a sense of bodily detachment to the same degree as non-suicide NDEs. But it tends to end, if it got this far at all, with a feeling of confused drifting in a dark or murky void a sort of twilight zone. (Dr. Kenneth Ring)

8. Creatures Found in the Void

Not only do human souls inhabit the void, but animals and strange creatures inhabit the void as well. The following NDE summaries will show you this.

Howard Pittman noticed that some of the demons were human in form and looked like ordinary people. Other demons were in mixed shapes and forms. Still more demons were half-human and half-animal forms while others were in horrible and morbid forms. (Rev. Howard Pittman)

Whenever Edgar Cayce traveled through the tunnel toward the light, he would observe strange creatures inhabiting the various afterlife realms he passed through. In the first realm, there were vague, horrible, grotesque forms such as one would see in a nightmare. On all sides of the tunnel, he would see misshapen forms of human beings with some part of the body magnified. He would also see people calling out to him for help and trying to get his attention:

The afterlife level where Cayce sees human beings appear with some body part magnified is also described in theTibetan Book of the Dead and other religious traditions as being hell. It is a place where a particular desire has been overemphasized while in physical life. (Edgar Cayce)

"Dalyrada committed suicide and found herself before a fierce looking and angry Angel of Death with huge black wings pinioned behind him and glittering eyes. This being was made out of shadows and was humanoid in form. She learned that this being is frequently confused with, or assumed to be Satan. Dalyrada and this being argued for a long time until she grudgingly returned to her body. (Dalyrada)

Another creature that is unusually similar to the one Dalyrada saw was sent to guide George Lennox on his journey to a hell of fire and brimstone:

"He resembled a man somewhat, but was much larger than any human being I ever saw. He must have been at least ten feet high. He had great wings on his back. He was black as the coal I had been digging, and in a perfectly nude condition. He had a spear in his hand, the handle of which must have been fully fifteen feet in length. His eyes shone like balls of fire. His voice sounded more like the growls of a lion in a menagerie than anything I can recall." (George Lennox)

While preparing to undergo one of his otherworldly journeys, Edgar Cayce had lost consciousness and had a dream. Usually, he would travel through a tunnel toward the light. But in this instance, he met the Angel of Death. The following is his experience described in his own words: "As I went out, I realized that I had contacted Death, as a personality, as an individual or as a being. Realizing this, I remarked to Death, 'You are not as ordinarily pictured - with a black mask or hood, or as a skeleton, or like Father Time with the sickle. Instead, you are fair, rose-cheeked, robust - and you have a pair of shears or scissors.' In fact, I had to look twice at the feet or limbs, or even at the body to see it take shape. He replied, 'Yes, death is not what many seem to think. It's not the horrible thing which is often pictured. Just a change - just a visit. The shears or scissors are indeed the implements most representative of life and death to man. These indeed unite by dividing - and divide by uniting. The cord does not, as usually thought, extend from the center - but is broken from the head, the forehead.'" (Edgar Cayce)

A strange creature met Kenneth Hagin at the gates of hell. Hagin didn't look directly at the creature because his gaze was riveted on the gates. The creature took him by the arm to bring him into hell. A voice was heard in a foreign language that caused the whole place to shake. At that point, the creature released Hagin's arm. (Rev. Kenneth Hagin)

In heaven, the Apostle John saw all kinds of creatures: a dragon, four beasts, a seven-headed beast with ten horns, a lamb, and a creature rising out of the sea. (Revelation 13)

9. Beings of Light Near the Void

Near-death accounts involve the experiencer observing Beings of Light near the void ready to help, or helping, souls in the void.

Souls in the void are unaware that Beings of Light are all around them, until they decide they need God/source/? help.

Mellen-Thomas Benedict descended into hell. As he did, he "descended into each person's customized human misery, ignorance, and darkness of not-knowing." It seemed like a miserable eternity for him. Each of the millions of souls there had a little star of light always available to them. But nobody there seemed to pay attention to it. They were so consumed with their own grief, trauma and misery to see it. (Mellen-Thomas Benedict)

Angie Fenimore realized that nobody else in dark and cold purgatory could see God talking to her. She learned that it was because they lacked the will to seek God as she did. Then she suddenly realized that many Beings of Light were everywhere all along. As she accepted more of God's light, she became less a part of the dark realm she was in. (Angie Fenimore)

Asher Elmekiess was in a place where darkness was everywhere. Yet there were sparkles all around like little stars. It was a place of so much love, peace and joy. Asher did not want to move or come back from there. (Asher Elmekiess)

Jesus led George Ritchie to hell and realized that there were Beings of Light above each angry soul fighting others there. These Beings were attending, watching over, and ministering to these souls although they were completely unaware of them. (Dr. George Ritchie)

"People who have led a life of hurting others or have led a misdirected, purely self-centered lifestyle, their spiritual environment after death will reflect this reality. It will place them in an area of the spirit world with like-minded people who have yet to learn the value of unselfishness for the advancement of the soul. These are areas distant from God and are said to be dark, cold and inhospitable. Spiritual guides are ready to enlighten any willing soul here and offer growth them opportunities to lead them into the light." (Nora Spurgin)

"There are souls called the shining ones who dedicate themselves to going into this dark realm and bringing spiritual light. The souls who are dedicated to this work of rehabilitation are clothed in protective garments so that they are not harmed or pierced by the dagger-like thoughts of hatred which those in the dark realms are throwing out. The shining ones are not allowed to go and talk to these people, but they stand nearby and call to them through thought - prayer, if you like. The moment the souls in this dark area respond in a positive way, the ones who have come to help are able to bring them out into a less dense, foggy world and eventually out into the realm of light." (Margaret Tweddell)

10. Religious Traditions and the Void

The void is known by many religious traditions by many different names.

Some of them are: purgatory, hell, outer darkness, prison, Gehennom, She'ol, pit, abyss, an-nar, and Preta-Loka.

The following is a brief description of some of these traditions.

The ancient Dead Sea sect of Hebrews, known as the Essenes, believed that bad souls were consigned to a dark, stormy abyss, full of punishments that know no end. (Essenes)

Hinduism holds to an idea of hell realms where exceptionally sinful people are punished. Many of the torments of Hindu hell realms, such as being tortured by demons, resemble the torments of more familiar Western hells. Unlike Western hells, however, Hindu hell realms are not final dwelling places. They are more like purgatories in which sinful souls experience suffering for a limited term. After the term is over, even the most evil person is turned out of hell to once again participate in the cycle of reincarnation. (Hinduism)

"[During deep meditation] I lost all sense of individualness and only after attempting to regain a sense of myself did I realize that I had lost individual consciousness ... It was as if my consciousness turned off a gravitational force that somehow maintained selfness, allowing my mind to slip into an infinite vacuum much like the difference between a contained planetary atmosphere and infinite, airless outer space. I assume this is what the Eastern seekers mean by entering the Void." (John Van Auken)

"[During deep meditation] I immediately found myself in a beautiful place, right next to the Light and Presence of God, where we are all living traces of His movement, yet still Him in essence. We are ourselves, yet also Him. I could feel it! All unique, but still Him. We all were open both to God and to connecting with each other, and there was nothing else except this! This was prior to inner and outer worlds, prior to space and time, prior to existence itself! This is the place where there are no limits, where peace is not yet disturbed, where surrender is natural, and where our life is wholly our relatedness to each other and to God." (Stuart Dean)

The Tibetan Buddhist Book of the Dead teaches that once awareness is freed from the body, it creates its own reality as one would experience in a dream. The Clear Light of the Ultimate Reality appears and the deceased must embrace this supreme experience not in a selfish and egoistic way but rather with love and compassion for everyone. The deceased must then realize that his own self is one with this light in order to attain Nirvana. If the deceased responds with fear, it is still not liberated and will descend into the second phase [the void] where peaceful deities appear. If liberation is not attained at this time, then the peaceful deities turn into wrathful deities. It is important in this realm to recognize the void-ness of all these beings as a projection of their own mind. (Tibetan Buddhism)

"People create hell realms out of their own anger." (Buddhism)

Muslim Sufi masters teach that, after death, people judge themselves thereby bringing about their own heaven or hell. Muslim theologians, particularly those of the Asharite school, believe that if a believer enters hell, God could forgive his sins and remove him, either immediately or after a certain period during which imperfections had been burned away as in a purgatory. (Muslim)

One line of Jewish thought argues that after death the soul has to be purified before it can go on the rest of its journey. The amount of time needed for purification depends on how the soul dealt with life. One Jewish tradition states that a soul needs a maximum of 11 months for purification, which is why, when a parent dies, the kaddish (memorial prayer) is recited for 11 months. (Judaism)

According to the Gnostic Christian book called the Pistis Sophia, some souls experience hell as a place of shadows and torture. However, after these souls pass through hell, they return to Earth for further experiences. Only a relatively few extremely evil souls are not permitted to reincarnate. These souls are cast into outer darkness until a time when they are destroyed and dissolved. (Gnosticism)

"Many people believe that those who don't give verbal assent to Jesus are cast headlong into eternal fire to burn forever. It should be common sense to anyone that a God of infinite love would never treat people this way. As Jesus said, even an evil father knows how to give good things to his children." (Kevin Williams)

The writers of the New Testament referred to the void more than they did heaven. Here are just some of these references:

"Blackest darkness is reserved for them." (2 Peter 2:6-18)

"But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 8:11-12)

"...you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny." (Matthew 5:22-26)

"It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames." (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)

"This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." (John 3:19-21)

11. Profound Experiences of the Void

There are many very interesting near-death accounts that involve an extended experience in the void.

From such accounts, much information concerning the void can be gleaned.

The following profound near-death experiences with the void are the best I have come across.

Guenter Wagner's void experience is too long to summarize here. His void experience is one of my personal favorites.

Other excellent void experiences come from: • Mellen-Thomas Benedict • Angie Fenimore • Rev. Howard Storm • Dr. George Ritchie, and • RaNelle Wallace.

Other, less in depth, void experiences come from: • Nancy Evans Bush • Don Brubaker • Rev. Kenneth Hagin • Dr. George Rodonaia• Tom Sawyer.

12. The Reasons For the Existence of the Void

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The following is a detailed discussion of each of these reasons:

a. Self-Reflection

Examining your inner spiritual nature is an important part of soul growth and there is no better place to do this than in the void.

Those who have learned to ignore their inner spiritual nature have the most difficulty in the void because they have the most to learn.

This is why it is important to examine your inner spirituality on Earth before you get to the void.

In fact, that is one of the important reasons we come to Earth in the first place.

Lynnclaire Dennis entered a vacuum, a sacred space that was exceedingly real and where her grief disappeared. The love within her saved her from oblivion. (Lynnclaire Dennis)

RaNelle Wallace encountered a deceased friend who, in life, fell into a life of drug dealing and hurt a lot of people. He was inhabiting a dark realm because of it and RaNelle was not permitted to hug him. She was told that his progress is limited. To the degree he became spiritually dark, he was consigned to a similar degree of darkness after death. As RaNelle returned to life, she was told repeatedly, "Tell everybody that the key is love." (RaNelle Wallace)

"All you may know of heaven or hell is within your own self." (Edgar Cayce)

b. Decision-Making

The ultimate purpose of the void is for us to look perfectly within ourselves.

If a person looks deep enough within themselves, they will find the light that can bring them from the darkness.

The problem is that many people choose not to do this for one reason or another.

The following near-death accounts involve making decisions in the void.

Diego Valencia was in a foggy realm near the Earth. He was then given the decision to return to his body or stay. (Diego Valencia)

Cecil asked the light, "What is hell?" He is told to turn and look. Cecil saw an old woman in a rocking chair determined to sit and rock and worry about children and grandchildren and everything else. Cecil learned that hell is a lack of wisdom and not moving on, choosing not to go any further, sitting there and doing nothing. Hell is not a place. (Cecil)

"Hell is a state of being heavy, dull, dismal, gray, and glum - as when you are heavily depressed and self-centered. It is a foggy realm after death where many people walk around just like people might do on Earth in a fog. If there has been much negativity during their life, or a suicide, the soul must spend some time contemplating what has happened. It is a holding place where souls who are confused, who do not want to let go of their earthly attachments, or who choose not to grow, will remain until such time as they allow themselves to be released to flow into the light. Many people need to suffer in order to feel worth. When they finally learn that this is a negative process they are running, they can move on." (Betty Bethards)

"Some souls, particularly those who have committed suicide, proceed to a purgatory of gray fog where they must make the decision to move into the light. People in purgatory shuffle slowly around in despair in a gray fog with their heads down until they make their decision." (Sylvia Browne)

c. Purification

The suffering that souls experience in the void serves a purpose for good.

Many religious traditions teach that God gives us suffering in order to create character, perseverance, and to cause us to rely more on God and not in our own strength (or weakness).

They teach that suffering should never be viewed as a curse from God, but rather a blessing in disguise.


Howard Storm stated that God allows people to be dragged into darkness with like-minded creatures. This is the right place for them, the right company, at the right time. God allowed Storm to experience this hell because he saw something redeeming inputting him through it. It was a way to purge him. People with a loving nature are not allowed to be pulled into darkness. Because of their love, they are attracted upwards toward the light. (Rev. Howard Storm)

Angie Fenimore realized that she was in a dark realm called purgatory where souls were completely self-absorbed and too caught up in their own misery to communicate with others. They had the ability to connect, but were incapacitated by the darkness. Jesus taught her that the realm of darkness was literally a spiritual time-out where people grasp the gravity of their offenses and pay the price for them. She learned that progressing out of this dark realm depends on a person's willingness to see the light. She learned that hell is primarily a state of mind. When we die, we are bound by what we think. People begin their citizenship in hell while on Earth. But when we die, our state of mind grows far more obvious because we are gathered together with those who think as we do. This ordering is completely natural and is consistent with how we choose to live while we are in this world. (Angie Fenimore)

Betty Bethards learned that the void is a realm of total darkness where we must confront the fears we have built within our own minds. As soon as we are able to meet them directly, to face them, they dissipate. It provides the opportunity for people to confront and move beyond the negativity they have created. Souls do not enter the void unless they need to experience it for their growth. Hell is a level of consciousness which can be experienced in or out of the body. It is a lonely place where one is not allowed to be in communication with anyone other than one's own negativity. (Betty Bethards)

"The type of near-death experience that Dr. PMH Atwater categorizes as the initial experience, involves elements such as a loving nothingness, the living dark, a friendly voice, or a brief out-of-body episode. Unpleasant or hell-like experiences involve inner cleansing and self-confrontation. (P.M.H. Atwater)

"Purgatory is an intermediary state that gives the soul the opportunity to develop further clarity. Hell is a state of being heavy, dull, dismal, gray, and glum-as when you are heavily depressed and self-centered. People who have an orientation of hate, for instance, find themselves unable to appreciate a realm of love and harmony. These people must wait until they gradually appreciate the fact that it is very destructive to hate like that." (Margaret Tweddell)

"Upon death, most souls go through a heavenly process before entering into heaven. Some souls, instead of experiencing the tunnel and bright light upon death, find themselves in an abyss of empty, joyless, nothingness for a brief period of time. This realm is known as purgatory." (Sylvia Browne)

13. How to Escape From the Void

Escaping from the void is very easy for some souls and extremely difficult for others.

Various near-death accounts provide a wealth of information on how to escape from the void.

a. Love sets you free from the void.
b. The light sets you free from the void.
c. Your faith sets you free from the void.
d. Beings of Light set you free from the void.
e. Reincarnation sets you free from the void.

The following information is a more detailed discussion of these ways to escape from the void:

a. Love Sets You Free From the Void

The void is a spiritual dimension that exists within us.
During our lives, we may fill this void with many things such as: love, hatred, happiness, sadness, knowledge, ignorance, family, just to name a few.

And when we die, we actually step into this spiritual dimension we have filled.
Whatever we fill the void within us with, at death, we enter into it.

Perhaps this is one good reason why the most important aspect of our missions in life have to do with love.
Realizing, filling and cultivating divine love within our void and sharing this love with others during our life will create a heavenly paradise that will be manifested in death.

The following near-death insights deal with love and its relationship to the void.

"After death, many people find themselves in the void. The way out of the void is simple. You must think of love. Those who you love might show up to tell you to go back to your body or to think of love. To recognize love as a reality is the key to getting out of the void." (Brian Krebs)

Lynnclaire Dennis' love redeemed her from oblivion. We only have to remember to make love real. (Lynnclaire Dennis)

"Hell is a condition of being totally devoid of love. We leave this condition when we choose to return to him." (Sandra Rogers)

"Ignorance of the need to seek spiritual growth may keep some souls in the void for a long period of time." (Nora Spurgin)

"Those in the dark realm can progress, but their progress is limited. The key is love." (RaNelle Wallace)

"To protect yourself from the unspiritual souls in the darkness, whether on Earth or in the void, chose to focus on love." (David Oakford)

Joni Maggi was in a dark outer space and feeling total bliss. It was there she learned that the universe is upheld by love. (Joni Maggi)

"The heavier the vibration of your soul (the amount of darkness), the nearer you are to hell." (Margaret Tweddell)

b. Light Sets You Free From the Void

While some people describe leaving the void through love, others describe leaving the void through light.

They are both describing the same thing and the same God/source/?.

One near-death experiencer put it so nicely, "God is the light that loves."

Laurelynn Martin floated up through blackness where there existed no fear, no pain, and no misunderstandings. There was also a sense of well-being. She was enveloped by total bliss in an atmosphere of unconditional love and acceptance. The darkness was warm and soft, a blanket of velvety love, stretching endlessly. The freedom of total peace was intensified beyond any ecstatic feeling she had ever felt on Earth. In the distance, a glorious white, golden light beckoned her forward. (Laurelynn Martin)

Ray Meir was in a very dark, vast, peaceful area. It was much like floating through outer space and total darkness. He felt extremely peaceful and very comfortable. Ahead he could see an extremely bright light attracting him. He felt a great love emanating from the light and he moved toward the light much like a child walking to its father. (Ray Meir)

Barbara Springer entered a black space where there existed no light; but she wasn't frightened at all. The space was totally comfortable. Ahead of her she noticed a bright light. (Barbara Springer)

Darlene Holman approached the blackness. Then see saw a light in the distance with souls around the edge of it. (Darlene Holman)

Hal was in the darkness and could neither see nor feel himself nor anything else. He wondered if the blackness was all there was and if he'd have to make do with his memories and imagination until they ran out. He was absorbed in thought when a faint glimmer of light appeared; but it quickly vanished. He tried to summon the light and another brief burst of light appeared. He wondered if he could attract its attention. The light appeared again and the nearer it came, the brighter it was. In the light, he could dimly see himself. The light grew very bright and he tried to look away. It was so bright that he feared its intensity. He yelled for it to stop and the light replied, "I will not harm you." (Hal)

c. Faith Sets You Free From the Void

By reflecting on positive thoughts instead of negative thoughts, and feeling the love and light within yourself, you will be able to progress from the void.

The following information demonstrates how faith can set you free.

George Rodonaia was surrounded by a profound darkness which shocked and horrified him. He wondered why he was in darkness and what he was supposed to do. He realized that because he could still think, this meant he still existed. Then he reasoned that since he existed, he should think only positive thoughts. He wondered how to define what is positive in the darkness. When he thought of light, he was instantly in the light. (Dr. George Rodonaia)

"As soon as we are able to confront our fears directly, to face them, they dissipate." (Betty Bethards)

Mrs. Walters tumbled in the blackness and felt frightened because she didn't know where she was going. She thought, "I have to get back inside my body." Immediately, she was back inside her body without knowing how. (Mrs. Walters)

d. Beings of Light Set You Free From the Void

Beings of Light are near and ready to help anyone in the void out of their predicament.

All it takes is but a desire or a cry for help, no matter how large or small the desire.

Some experiencers, such as Linda Stewart, didn't belong in the void at all and were automatically rescued from the void.

The following is a summary of her rescue from the void.

Linda Stewart was irresistibly draw toward a vast, endless black void or black hole. Gradually, she felt herself sinking into it. It appeared that she would simply disappear into the dark nothingness. As her new awareness waned, she yielded to the heaviness overtaking her as darkness filled her mind. Her vision became obscured as she began to merge into the blackness. Offering no resistance, she released her hold on any remaining shred of consciousness and personal identity. As she felt the last of herself disappearing into nothingness, she was suddenly buffeted by a powerful, energetic force that swooped beneath and lifted her, carrying her upward. She was barely conscious. Her only awareness was the sensation of rising. Vast distances seemed to fly by her and the higher she rose, the more her head cleared. She felt peaceful and loved immeasurably. She knew that she was in the arms of a Being who cherished her with perfect love. This Being was Jesus and he carried her from the void into a new reality. (Linda Stewart)

"Higher beings know what to do to help a soul in the void advance themselves if they so choose to do so." (David Oakford)

e. Reincarnation Sets You Free From the Void

God/source/? never abandons anyone to the void.

Those who are either unwilling or ignorant about entering the light may have only one choice and that is to return to Earth.

Again, this is not punishment; it is a way for such souls to return to the Earth-school for more lessons and learn how to progress.

"For some souls, the only hope out of the void is through reincarnation." (Arthur Yensen)

Sandra Rogers committed suicide and Jesus gave her two choices: (1) She could be revived from her NDE and live out the rest of her life, or (2) she could remain on the other side. If she chose to remain on the other side she would have to eventually reincarnate and experience once again everything that led her to commit suicide in the first place. (Sandra Rogers)

14. The Struggle Between the Dark and the Light

One of the most interesting aspects to near-death research is learning about the struggle between the forces of light and the forces of darkness.
These forces compete to gain supremacy over the Earth realm.

Not only does near-death research provide information concerning this spiritual struggle, but there is an abundance of religious sources that describe this struggle.

Both sources provide information about the future of the Earth and humanity.
Both near-death and religious support of this struggle are remarkably consistent.

The following information will provide you with some of the details concerning this struggle and its future outcome.

15. The Struggle Witnessed By Experiencers

Many experiencers witness or participate in struggles between light and dark beings.
Souls from the lower hellish realms enter into the world for the purpose of soul growth.

Unfortunately, many of these souls end up entertaining the forces of darkness (spiritual ignorance) and result in making the Earth that much more spiritually ignorant.

Souls from the higher realms attempt to bring spiritual enlightenment to the world.
This balance between light and dark is the nature of the Earth and the universe.

It is a constant struggle and one day the light will overcome the darkness on Earth.
But because free will is an aspect of divinity which every soul has, spiritual enlightenment cannot be forced.

But ultimately, because human beings are an aspect of divinity, the forces of spiritual ignorance can never win.
They may win the battle but the war has already been decided.

This same spiritual battle that occurs in the spirit realms, also occurs within the hearts of human beings.

The following near-death accounts give more information about this spiritual war:

The light told Guenter Wagner that there existed very powerful spirit enemies with whom the light had been constantly fighting. The light told Guenter to warn the people on Earth about these spirit enemies. The light also mentioned that these enemies wanted to play a trick on Guenter by using him as a kind of trap, but that he had to defend the Earth and the dark realm. The light said that the Earth would be much easier to defend because these enemies had no power in the world and the light had no power in the dark realm. The light said that this war has been going on for a very long time and the enemy souls have become more and more powerful. He said that if this continued, there would not be any means of preventing them from taking over everything. The light said that if these enemies succeeded in coming to the Earth realm, the war would be lost. Guenter was told that although the light was powerful enough to fight them off, the war would be lost in the long run. The light told Guenter that he needed to go back and tell the world about it. (Guenter Wagner)

Edgar Cayce learned that the so-called Battle of Armageddon described in the Bible, is actually a battle that is fought in the spirit realms between the souls of light and souls of darkness coming into this world. He explained that the souls from the dark realms wage war with "the spirits of light that come into the Earth for the awakening." This means it is a battle between souls coming into the Earth realm and those leaving it. Both groups, the souls of darkness and the souls of light, are attempting to influence the balance of light and darkness in the world. Cayce learned that at a time in the future, souls from the lower realms will be completely prevented from incarnating to the Earth and only souls from the higher realms of light will be allowed to incarnate. Over a period of time, this will result in forces of light on Earth overcoming the forces of darkness. Complete spiritual enlightenment on Earth will occur. During the time that only souls from the higher realms are permitted to incarnate, Jesus will return and eventually a new era of spiritual awakening and enlightenment will renew humanity and the result and be a thousand years of peace (the "kingdom of heaven" on Earth). (Edgar Cayce)

"The conflict between the higher and lower self within human beings, or what some call God and the Devil, causes growth until finally the negativity or the destructive elements are completely overcome." (Betty Bethards)

"A sense of blackness, like a dark damp cloud, came over a woman during a NDE. She was terrified and called out to Jesus. Immediately, she witnessed a battle between a Being of Light and this dark force. Immediately following, the light overtook the darkness." (Dr. Liz Dale)

16. The Struggle Described by Religion

The following are some religious references to this battle between the forces of light and the forces of darkness.

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12)

The Jewish and Christian doctrines of the dualistic cosmic struggle between the forces of darkness and the forces of light; as well as resurrection and the Final Judgment, originated with the ancient Persian religion called Zoroastrianism (the religion of the three wise men). (Zoroastrianism)

Before the world began, a war in heaven occurred and the devil and his angels were cast out of heaven to the Earth. (Revelation 12:7)

17. The Light Will Overcome the Darkness

All the religious and NDE evidence suggests that the new era of spiritual enlightenment and peace is close at hand.

According to many NDE and religious sources, this will be a tremendous upheaval of society as well as nature.

You can read more about this on the NDE and the Future page.

The following near-death accounts are some of the best I have read on this subject.

Josiane Antonette was given a vision while in heaven. She saw the Earth from space and it was colorless, bare, and obscured behind a gray veil. There was no love or joy there. She saw phantom-like people standing on a stage. Half of the Earth was in darkness. On the other side, a sun attempted to shine but nobody paid attention to it. The darkness grew and eventually covered all of Earth and nobody paid attention. A voice told Josiane that this is the world in the absence of love, light and free will. She was told that it was our choices that created this world. With that, the nightmarish world dissolved and became a place of breathtaking beauty. She learned that everything is interconnected by a transparent net of light. (Josiane Antonette)

Edgar Cayce revealed over 50 years ago that the spiritual Battle of Armageddon will begin in the year 1999. At this time, souls from the lower realms will not be permitted to incarnate. Cayce mentioned that the Christ soul will incarnate again in the year 1998. Cayce also learned that this spiritual war is not only an outward spiritual battle, but is also an internal spiritual battle within everyone on Earth. The end result will be heaven on Earth. (Edgar Cayce)

An interesting thing that Mellen-Thomas Benedict learned while in the void was that God was not there. God is here on Earth. That's what it is all about. Humanity's constant search for God outside of this world doesn't need to happen. Everything is here. We are God's exploration of God through us. People are so busy trying to become God that they ought to realize that we are already God and God is becoming us. That's what it is really about. (Mellen-Thomas Benedict)

In the future, the devil will finally be thrown into a bottomless pit for one thousand years. Then a new heaven and a new Earth will come into being. (Revelation 20)

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[TD]"As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of being." - Carl Jung[/TD]
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[Skarekrow]

People Don't Actually Survive Death

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SKEPTIC'S ARGUMENT:

"With great trepidation, I allowed myself the thought that the resurrection of Christ didn't accord with science.
Death, by definition, is a permanent and irreversible biological state.
Later, that quiet tremor became a defiant reality testing rallying cry, as I boldly said: 'I believe that Jesus Christ was killed, period.'"

KEVIN WILLIAMS, B.SC.:

"I came to a similar conclusion myself about the resurrection of Christ in that he probably did not rise bodily from the grave.
All the visitations of Jesus after his death described in the Bible can be interpreted as being the phenomenon known today as after-death communications (ADCs).

As a very liberal Christian, I don't see any need to believe in resurrection (or any religious dogma for that matter) to live a spiritual life of loving other people.
In fact, the concept of resurrection did not originate with Christianity or Judaism but by the ancient Persians.

This fact usually comes as a big surprise to Christians when they learn about this. "However, I do disagree that there exists conclusive, scientific evidence proving either way of the existence or non-existence of an afterlife - especially when there is a mountain of circumstantial evidence, albeit mostly anecdotal, suggesting the possibility of the survival of consciousness after death.

"From modern research of after-death communications, it is apparent that multitudes of people throughout history have reported experiences of some form of visitation by deceased loved ones.

These are often very subtle experiences spontaneously occurring in a variety of ways including: suddenly hearing a voice, smelling a fragrance, having a lucid dream, experiencing synchronicity, or even full-blown apparitions of the deceased.

My entire family experienced this phenomenon when my mother was killed in a tragic car accident.
So because of my own experiences and related research, it is apparent to me that the appearances of Jesus to his disciples after his death were ADCs all along.

This doesn't mean Jesus didn't actually communicate with his disciples in some way after his death.
It only suggests there is a modern interpretation of these matters.

Even so, I see no advantage in knowing whether Jesus' body died permanently, or resurrected, or reincarnated.
It has no special advantage to me in my endeavor to live a spiritual life."​

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[TD="align: center"]"The modern tradition of equating death with an ensuing nothingness can be abandoned.
For there is no reason to believe that human death severs the quality of the oneness in the universe."
- Dr. Larry Dossey, MD[/TD]
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[Skarekrow]

Is Consciousness More than the Brain? | Interview with Dr. Gary Schwartz


[video=youtube;x-6hosFAObI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=x-6hosFAObI[/video]

Today, perhaps the ultimate unsolved mystery of human life is: how and why does consciousness exist?

Although some scientific literature still acknowledges that the question remains open, the overwhelming consensus among neuroscientists today is that the brain alone creates conscious experience.

However, for decades, acclaimed scientists around the world have conducted research into consciousness that provides a very different picture.

One of the most remarkable of these researchers is Dr. Gary Schwartz, professor of psychology, medicine, neurology, psychiatry and surgery at the University of Arizona and director of its Laboratory for Advances in Consciousness and Health.

We asked Dr. Gary Schwartz for his thoughts on the mystery of consciousness.
Dr Schwartz’s website: http://www.drgaryschwartz.com/

Gary E. Schwartz, Ph.D., is Professor of Psychology, Medicine, Neurology, Psychiatry, and Surgery at the University of Arizona, at the main campus in Tucson. In addition to teaching courses on health and spiritual psychology, he is the Director of the Laboratory for Advances in Consciousness and Health.

Gary received his Ph.D. in psychology from Harvard University in 1971 and was an assistant professor at Harvard for five years.
He later served as a professor of psychology and psychiatry at Yale University, was director of the Yale Psychophysiology Center, and co-director of the Yale Behavioral Medicine Clinic, before moving to Arizona in 1988.

Previous videos on this channel relating to consciousness:
Dr. Rupert Sheldrake at EU 2013: Science Set Free: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0waMBY3qEA4
Dean Radin: Men Who Stare at Photons: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMXqyf13HeM

 

[Skarekrow]

"Is Consciousness Produced by the Brain?" by Bruce Greyson

"Cosmology and Consciousness Conference - Mind and Matter" (2011)

[video=youtube;sPGZSC8odIU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=sPGZSC8odIU[/video]​

 

[sprinkles]

[MENTION=5045]Skarekrow[/MENTION]

The fact that my brain feels like a prison tells me that consciousness is more than the brain. My brain is not adequate to contain my mind. However that also tells me that my mind is stuck here. Even with lucid dreaming and OOB traveling, my brain is still my home somehow. I have to do so much to kick my brain out of the way and make it work.

I can feel my brain struggle like a CPU with a clock speed that is way lower than it needs to be.

However I do think the conscious space is larger than your 3D brain and goes into extra dimensions. You can't see all of it but stuff gets moved around in there like pulling pieces through the 4th dimension using commutators on a Rubik's hypercube. It's kind of bigger on the inside than on the outside and you can't see all of it in 3D projection.

 

[Skarekrow]

@Skarekrow

The fact that my brain feels like a prison tells me that consciousness is more than the brain. My brain is not adequate to contain my mind. However that also tells me that my mind is stuck here. Even with lucid dreaming and OOB traveling, my brain is still my home somehow. I have to do so much to kick my brain out of the way and make it work.

I can feel my brain struggle like a CPU with a clock speed that is way lower than it needs to be.

However I do think the conscious space is larger than your 3D brain and goes into extra dimensions. You can't see all of it but stuff gets moved around in there like pulling pieces through the 4th dimension using commutators on a Rubik's hypercube. It's kind of bigger on the inside than on the outside and you can't see all of it in 3D projection.

That could very well be exactly how it really is.
The proof that something beyond what we can normally measure and touch and think of as tangible is there. It doesn’t quite provide us with any totally solid answers but as Dr. Greyson says at the end of the video I just posted - “I could not possibly fathom what happens beyond death while I am in this brain.”
That is true in relation to consciousness too.
But I subscribe to the idea that the mind is the receiver and not the transmitter.
This is why when you fly in a dream you think “Oh yeah, I remember how to do this…how in the fuck did I forget something so basic?” (at least that’s what I think)
There are too many correlation's between stories and experiences…and they all felt even more aware than they did in this plane of existence….coming back to their bodies many felt like this life was the dream.
It makes sense that our minds would do that…and it would make sense in the realm of quantum physics and wormholes and entangled particles.
Fucking fascinating!

 

[Skarekrow]

[MENTION=6917]sprinkles[/MENTION]
I used to be a supervisor for a place called the Center for Neuro Skills which was a therapy-based living center for people who sustained brain injuries.
There were even several former cops there who had been shot in the head and now acted like children…besides them there were other’s who you couldn’t tell if they were there consciously or not….I would hope that someone like that wouldn’t be trapped in their mind and body as a prisoner.
I would hope they would learn to lucid dream, or are able to go out of body…otherwise, it’s terribly depressing to think of a life lived trapped like that…please someone just put me out of my misery.

 

[sprinkles]

[MENTION=6917]sprinkles[/MENTION]
I used to be a supervisor for a place called the Center for Neuro Skills which was a therapy-based living center for people who sustained brain injuries.
There were even several former cops there who had been shot in the head and now acted like children…besides them there were other’s who you couldn’t tell if they were there consciously or not….I would hope that someone like that wouldn’t be trapped in their mind and body as a prisoner.
I would hope they would learn to lucid dream, or are able to go out of body…otherwise, it’s terribly depressing to think of a life lived trapped like that…please someone just put me out of my misery.

I've been catatonic before and can say that it is nearly as shitty as you could imagine. Fortunately the effect of stupor kind of numbs and distances things a bit so that you don't fully experience the terror because a lot of cognitive ability is absent. Unfortunately the effect of stupor also removes any ability for coping strategy or self assessment.

It's kinda like you can see everything and vaguely know you exist, hear words and know they're words, see people and they look like people... but that's about it. You can't think, the knowing things is just reflex and being aware obviously becomes a state and not a verb. Self awareness mostly goes kaput - i.e. you know you're seeing stuff and that's about it, it doesn't occur to you that you're not acting as you normally should be. It's like when you get whacked on the knee with that little hammer and your leg jumps, but applied to your awareness.

Puzzling all this together mostly comes in retrospect after recovering. If you recover.

 

[Skarekrow]

I've been catatonic before and can say that it is nearly as shitty as you could imagine. Fortunately the effect of stupor kind of numbs and distances things a bit so that you don't fully experience the terror because a lot of cognitive ability is absent. Unfortunately the effect of stupor also removes any ability for coping strategy or self assessment.

It's kinda like you can see everything and vaguely know you exist, hear words and know they're words, see people and they look like people... but that's about it. You can't think, the knowing things is just reflex and being aware obviously becomes a state and not a verb. Self awareness mostly goes kaput - i.e. you know you're seeing stuff and that's about it, it doesn't occur to you that you're not acting as you normally should be. It's like when you get whacked on the knee with that little hammer and your leg jumps, but applied to your awareness.

Puzzling all this together mostly comes in retrospect after recovering. If you recover.

Funny that you should describe it in such a way….that sounds a lot like the “void” first encountered after one realizes he/she is dead.
If you were self-absorbed in life, then so you will be in this void and will not realize the tools to escape were always within your grasp.
It’s funny how most experiences transcend religious dogma that the person believes…only on rare occasions has it been in-line with their religious teachings.
But the one thing that seems to be the key to it all is - LOVE.
Unconditional.
You only have to choose love over darkness…and it seems the moment that choice is made, the void dissipates or they are saved somehow.
This same idea is repeated in what we would call ‘heaven’…the golden rule of “treating others as you would be treated” seems to be the bottom line…and you get to experience via life-review how an act of kindness ripples from one person to another to another…and you get to experience those acts of hate we dish out as well, and FEEL firsthand what effect we had on others. I find that fascinating that these correlations could be drawn so heavily…across cultures and beliefs and religious ideals.
And so, if unconditional love and the golden rule is what the fabric of the universe seems to be written on…I love you as my friend sprinkles.
We should spread some more love around…we should do this in a conscious fashion…without regard to their deserving of it or not…of course more love could never be a bad thing.

 

[sprinkles]

Funny that you should describe it in such a way….that sounds a lot like the “void” first encountered after one realizes he/she is dead.
If you were self-absorbed in life, then so you will be in this void and will not realize the tools to escape were always within your grasp.
It’s funny how most experiences transcend religious dogma that the person believes…only on rare occasions has it been in-line with their religious teachings.
But the one thing that seems to be the key to it all is - LOVE.
Unconditional.
You only have to choose love over darkness…and it seems the moment that choice is made, the void dissipates or they are saved somehow.
This same idea is repeated in what we would call ‘heaven’…the golden rule of “treating others as you would be treated” seems to be the bottom line…and you get to experience via life-review how an act of kindness ripples from one person to another to another…and you get to experience those acts of hate we dish out as well, and FEEL firsthand what effect we had on others. I find that fascinating that these correlations could be drawn so heavily…across cultures and beliefs and religious ideals.
And so, if unconditional love and the golden rule is what the fabric of the universe seems to be written on…I love you as my friend sprinkles.
We should spread some more love around…we should do this in a conscious fashion…without regard to their deserving of it or not…of course more love could never be a bad thing.

The thing is that it isn't ignorance, it is paralysis. You don't know the way out and you also don't know that you don't know and even if you did know, you can't do anything because you can't think.

You have no idea what it is like until you have been there. It's not like this void at all. There's no choosing anything because you actually lose that ability. It becomes true apathy where you can't choose and even if you could, you're unable to judge the value of doing so.