by Karen | Dec 22, 2020 | Life After Death, Life Between Lives, Past Lives, Survival of Consciousness |
Humans have known about the existence of spirits and the spirit world for tens of thousands of years of human existence, if not longer. Each tribe or culture has created their own interpretation of non-physical worlds from which our material Earth sprung.
These spiritual beliefs form the foundation of cultures. For example, the indigenous people of Australia have ancestral stories that came from the Dreamtime, the time when Ancestors created life and formations of the lands. The art, stories, ceremonies and song, passed down the generations, guide their survival physically, emotionally and spiritually.
In Western culture, the Bible formed the foundation of beliefs in an afterlife. Then came the renaissance, which eventually challenged the biblical ideas of heaven and hell, replacing them, to various degrees, with materialistic interpretations.
However, the evolution of Western culture has not stopped. It continues. In the last century, New Age beliefs have expanded from individuals becoming aware of non-physical worlds during Near Death Experiences, After Death communication, remembering past lives and other incidents that have no satisfactory scientific explanation. Some people write books about non-physical phenomena and readers have a growing body of literature to explore.
I am one of those who had an eye opening experience many years ago, but I am not alone. Michael Newton also described a similar experience well before I stumbled upon a client unexpectedly accessing a past life. I described this experience in my book, Other Lives, Other Realms. Hypnosis practitioners are particularly at risk of discovering the potential existence of other lives and realms.
Recently I came upon a link to Michael recounting this experience provided by the Michael Newton Institute in its quarterly online magazine, Stories of the Afterlife. You can subscribe to the magazine here. And the link to watch Michael is here. Both links are worthwhile and enlightening.
by Karen | Aug 4, 2020 | Life After Death, Loss of loved one, Survival of Consciousness |
“Terminal lucidity” is the term given to people who become unexpectedly lucid before they die. It is unexpected because their bodies are ravaged and their minds unresponsive. Some are mentally ill, demented, or in a comatose state and sometimes for many weeks.
I first heard about this phenomenon when I was in my twenties. My partner at that time was an orderly working at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney. He described how he had observed patients, unconscious and dying, suddenly become energetic and completely present. At first, because he had conversed with these people, he assumed they were recovering. But the next day, when he dropped in to say hello, their bed was empty. On enquiring, he would learn they had died.
He was puzzled. Some had been unresponsive for weeks. But after a while, he came to the conclusion that it was quite common for people to have a “last hurrah” before they passed. Neither of us knew of any medical explanation for this strange occurrence.
Some people have described their pets rallying just before they died. After being listless for days, cats and dogs have come to their owners for a cuddle or curled up and looked into their owner’s eyes before passing.
We know that terminal lucidity has been around for hundreds of years. Shakespeare refer to it in Romeo and Juliet, Act V, Scene III. Romeo proclaims, while laying Paris in Juliet’s tomb:
How oft when men are at the point of death
Have they been merry which their keepers call
A lightening before death
With all our scientific and medical advancements, no one can explain how a deteriorated body and brain (confirmed by autopsy) can rally to participate in such lucidity before death. The only thing that the medical profession admits is that it does happen and is quite common. Many nurses and elderly carers have observed its occurrence.
Over the years, I have heard many stories from clients who have experienced terminal lucidity in their loved ones. However, I know it exists because I have experienced it myself.
In 1981, I was beside my grandmother who was dying. She had suffered deteriorating congestive heart failure for some years. When I was told she was dying, I travelled to the nursing home to be by her side. Her breathing was slow and heavy, and she looked like she was in a deep sleep. I sat by her side for two days and two nights.
On the first night she lapsed into unconsciousness, with long pauses between breaths and a hoarse sound coming from her throat. I panicked and called the night nurse. The nurse flew into action, giving her oxygen and some other treatment, which I don’t specifically recall. My grandmother’s breathing reversed to what it had been before and she appeared to remain in a coma.
The next day my grandmother stirred, soon becoming wide awake and lucid. She said, “I am in a funny predicament.” I asked her what she meant. She replied that she was dying. I didn’t argue with her. Instead, I reminded her how much my sisters and I treasured all the love, guidance and special experiences she and her husband, my grandfather, had given us. Between them, they had taught us to bake, to kill and clean chickens, to sow seeds and watch the strawberries, corn and other plants grow, to catch, scale and clean fish, to find and enjoy rock oysters, to play cards and board games, to behave with dignity and gratitude, and so much more. I thanked her for the love and protection she had given us—we had extremely dysfunctional parents and the love, attention and guidence of our grandparents was gold for us. Before she lapsed again into unconsciousness, she told me how much she had loved every minute of it.
That night, a different nurse was on night duty. I discussed the revival the previous night. Neither of us saw the point of continual revivals, delaying the inevitable, for which I now knew my grandmother was prepared. This time when her breaths were more and more delayed, we didn’t interfere. I held her hand, speaking to her softly while watching her slowly fade away.
What a privilege it was to be with her at the end. And I was so grateful for the minutes of lucidity which provided an opportunity for the two of us to reminisce and appreciate the experiences we’d shared.
Now I think of all those in nursing homes who, because of Covid-19, are denied their relatives at their bedside. Dying can be beautiful but the lack of loved ones at the bedside of those leaving the planet is hard for all. I pray that somehow this is rethought and changed, so the opportunity for these special moments at the end of a life are preserved.
One nurse summed it up after observing terminal lucidity in her patients while relatives were at their bedside. It remains a beautiful and mysterious gift.
NOTE:
If you would like to know more about terminal lucidity, the University of Virginia (UVA) has conducted significant research providing evidence of consciousness being independent of the brain and body.
At a conference in India in 2013, Dr Bruce Greyson, then head of the Department of Perpetual Studies at UVA, spoke about terminal lucidity and other research. Here is the link:
Video of Dr Greyson
by Karen | Mar 21, 2020 | Life After Death, News, Pandemic |
Many people believe that things happen for a reason. Some are religious or spiritually oriented. My grandmother, devoted throughout her life to her Christian God, often used the well-worn phrase, “God moves in mysterious ways.” Without knowing any details, she trusted that those (God) running this universe knew what they were doing.
We are not so trusting these days. We question the motives our government officials, those in charge of our religious institutions and many other people around us. Why would we trust that there is purpose in the spread of the coronavirus with no details or evidence? We are not all naïve children. In our modern world we have seen the greed, the lies and the lack of care of many large and small organisations. The TV series “Dirty Money” and the movie, “The Big Short” shows us how greedy, dishonest and foolish some humans can be.
And yet there are many who still believe that things happen for a reason, including the Covid-19. These are the people who have their feet planted firmly on the ground, while their heart is connected to something greater than us all. They trust that all will be well. Many of these may not identify as spiritual, but they have an inner knowing that there is nothing to fear.
Others, however, want to know why we are suddenly struggling with a virus that has the potential to wipe out millions of people.
Practitioners, like myself, who are members of the Michael Newton Institute, have known for the last couple of years that some great change was coming. We didn’t know what it was, but client after client was told by their spiritual guides that the way we live was going to change, and relatively quickly.
That might sound crazy to some of you. I thought it was a bit crazy too. Even though I know there is a bigger plan, I couldn’t work out how massive change could come as quickly as the guides were predicting.
Now, as I watch TV, I feel as though I am watching one of those disaster movies where the newsreader is reporting massive ice sheets or tremendous earthquakes swallowing up the landscape, or aliens in their spaceships landing. I need to pinch myself to switch back onto the facts in front of my eyes: all around the world at the same time, countries are completely shutting down.
The coronavirus is the catalyst for change. Greed and dishonesty have been running our world and we need to return to love and compassion. People have forgotten who they really are. They don’t need to fight for survival. Although our bodies die, we do not. Even though our bodies change and grow old, our true self does not. We experience, we learn and we grow in wisdom. In the past this was through the pain we suffered. But things are different now. We don’t have to learn the hard way—unless we want to.
What do we do to help birth this change? I had a client today who was given the answer to this question.
She was taken back to the moment when her daughter was born. The baby was distressed and there was noise and panic in the room from those assisting. This is what she said:
I saw the source of light that we see when we are dying. There was this craziness happening on the day, the stress and rush. But I saw a fork in the background, and I took the right path. I stayed with the light. I didn’t panic, in spite of my pain and the panic all around me. I had this sense that all is good. I got the message, ‘trust yourself. You know what you are doing.’
I see angels dancing, happy and smiling. Happiness, joy and fun is coming. There is no need to fear. Good is on its way.
Referring to the challenges we now face, the guides continued their message:
There is light in the world now. The light spreads. It is not just dark anymore. It is different to the past. There is not just black and white now, there is colour. Many are following the old patterns of the past, being fearful and hiding, trying to survive. But there is no need. It is different this time.
Guilt is an illusion, an old pattern from the past. Forget about it. It is silly and not necessary. There is no need to fear, hide or panic. This is not the same as before a long time ago. Much love and light is in the world now.
Countless clients, during spiritual regressions, have been told that many light and loving souls have incarnated here to help birth this new Earth. You might be one of them.
The message from the guides continues:
Be compassionate for each other, stay with the light. Don’t be selfish. The light is overcoming the dark. Connect to the light, and the dark will be overcome. Each of you has healing power, each of you has light within, and connecting to love and light will bring more enlightening. Slow down and be patient with yourself and others. Trust that all is in control and be responsible and caring. The more you connect to the light (love and compassion) rather than the dark (fear and guilt), the faster it will be overcome. Do right by yourself and by others.
Although the coronavirus right now may seem dangerous and inconvenient, it is giving us an opportunity to remember what really matters, our loved ones, each other, enjoying life and having fun.
by Karen | Oct 16, 2018 | Life After Death, Loss of loved one, Panic attacks |
When I was working as a psychologist, I saw an average of twenty clients a week. Over twenty years, I must have seen thousands of clients. Even so, some stories have stayed with me. Here is one about a client suffering panic attacks.
Chrissy, aged 28, came to see me because she felt increasingly anxious. She had always been a bit anxious, but it had never stopped her from getting on with her life. I considered this a normal level of anxiety. But over the last twelve months, her anxiety had developed into panic attacks.
Her father had committed suicide six years earlier. He’d been an unhappy, sensitive man who coped by using alcohol. Before this, he’d been a loving father to her. She said she coped with his suicide by believing he was at peace. She’d hated watching his emotional turmoil over the last couple of years before he died. Her mother had left him, and he never quite recovered from this experience of loss and rejection.
Like most people, she felt like she was dying during her panic attacks. Somehow, each time they hit, she managed to pull herself out of the fear and regain her composure. This wasn’t a satisfactory solution because, sooner or later, they always returned.
I use the technique of supported exposure to deal with panic attacks. I consider panic attacks to be a type of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Some specific experience, perhaps too fleeting to be noticed, brings a past trauma suddenly and vividly to life.
Supported exposure gently takes the client back into the experience of panic, while letting her know she is safe and supported. Usually the client receives more information about the trauma by staying with the feelings of panic until they gradually subside.
I asked Chrissy to describe her panic attack and, within a few moments, she was back in it. I encouraged her to be brave and stay with her feelings, breathing slowly and deeply. She followed my instructions and soon started reporting her impressions.
She sensed the presence of her father. I accepted this as her truth and began to explore it. I asked if he knew he was dead. She felt a strong sense of confusion and fear.
I have many clients who have sensed the presence of the dead, especially those they had loved who have passed on. Their presence often stirs up feelings of confusion. I used the same technique with Chrissy as I had used with them, as it had always worked.
I suggested she tell her father he has died. He committed suicide many years ago thinking that would free him from pain, but the pain remains. This may sound counter-intuitive, especially if you believe death to be the end. But even though our body falls away, our soul-self continues. Chrissy’s father is clutching onto her because he does not know what else to do.
I explained this to her. “You love him, but his pain is too great for you to bear. It is time for him to go. Are you willing to let him go, Chrissy?”
Chrissy started crying. She admitted it was difficult to let him go. Since his death, she had been aware of his presence from time to time, especially if she felt down or alone. This had been a comfort to her.
I explained it was time to release him. He had things to do on the other side and she needed to learn how to cope without him. I continued to reassure her, giving her time to weep quietly until she decided to let him go.
She suddenly saw a bright light, even though her eyes were closed. Then she said, “He’s gone.” She reported feeling calm.
As she opened her eyes, she explained that she now understood what had happened. He had attached to her after he died. She had never completely grieved her loss because she had never fully felt he’d gone. She wondered if he had sensed some need in her and hung around to help her cope.
It wasn’t only her father who’d felt lost. She had too. After five years with her, he wanted to leave, but every time he started to let go, she went into a panic. This took her back to the moment she learned of his suicide and all her feelings of helplessness. Now she realised she’d been hanging onto him, holding him back from getting on with his life on the other side. The tears she shed during the session expressed the loss she was finally feeling.
After this session, Chrissy had no more panic attacks and her anxiety subsided. She came to see me several times, building her inner strength and developing the confidence to cope as an adult in the world. As well, she soon felt connected to her spiritual guide who was there to help her.
Chrissy was one of the early clients I encountered who was hanging onto a deceased loved one. I have met many more since, on my journey as a healer, some when I was a psychologist and some as a spiritual practitioner. Not all involve panic attacks. There can be other symptoms, such as depression, sadness or feelings of helplessness. Some people know they are hanging onto a loved one but don’t know how to let go. Others, like Chrissy, don’t want to let go.
Panic attacks have many causes. They are all discoverable if the practitioner and the client are willing to explore deeply with an expansive view of what is possible.
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