Near-Death Experiences (NDEs)
What is an NDE and how can it happen? People who have been reported clinically dead for a few minutes or more, ie without a heartbeat, may have experienced a so-called “near-death experience” (NDE). Most near-death experiences (NDEs) occur as a result of an operation, a heart attack, an illness, or an accident, which have lead to a temporary cardiac arrest. Today, NDEs are reported by an increasing number of people all around the world. Especially in the United States and over the past fifteen years, many individuals have stepped forward to openly share their experiences. Some also write a book about their NDE, of which many become bestsellers. (See, for example, books by Anita Moorjani, Dr. Eben Alexander, Jeffrey Olsen, Rev. Peter Panagore, Tricia Barker, and Betty J. Eadie).
The international organization Near-Death Experience Research Foundation provides a growing online database with personal stories from people around the world. At present, the database holds over 4,900 entries from people who voluntarily have shared their experiences, freely and accessible to all. This can be a good place to explore the great variations of NDEs.
So, what does a near-death experience involve? The NDE describes a series of events, usually beginning with the clinical death of a person; then proceeding to an out-of-body and often other-wordly experience; and lastly, ending with the person’s soul re-entering the body and ‘waking up’ to earthly life. While the experience may only have lasted for a few minutes, for the experiencer it can feel like many weeks, even years (because our sense of time does not existent in the other realm).
More specifically, the NDEr tells of how he/she initially dies and leaves the body (pain free), usually hovering above it, before entering and traveling through a light-colored-tunnel with incredible speed. At the end of the tunnel, there is often an extremely bright light. Here, the person is greated by one or more relatives, or some other benevolent being(s). At some point, most experiencers often have a so-called ‘life review’, in which they re-experience their entire life, with ‘deep dives’ in moments of special importance. Finally, most people are told that they cannot stay, often because they have more ‘work’ to do on Earth, or are needed by others. Upon consenting, one is then immediately returned to his/her body and ‘wakes up’. Although there are many elements to the NDE common to most people, each experience is unique.
Apart from their often fascinating contents, near-death experiences are also wonderful sources of wisdom and timless, universal messages. For example, they may reveal insights about the meaning of life and what matters most in the end. Above all, the NDE often brings deep personal insights for the experiencer. Most experiencers also return with a completely new outlook on life, but also with extra-sensory abilities, such as clair-voyance, clair-audience, etc. (which may be tough to integrate initially). Some may be permanently healed from a disease or ailment, while others report that a certain fear is completely gone or greatly reduced. Common to all NDEs is their central message about the importance of love, compassion, and forgiveness. Another insight that many NDErs bring back is the Oneness of humanity, on a spiritual or soul level.
If you (or someone you know) have had an NDE, you are warmly welcome to reach out to me (Anna). All experiences and reflections are welcome. (For practical information about the coaching, see this page).
