Afterlife Realms and the Near-Death
Experience
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If you want to know
what the afterlife is like, pay close attention
to your
dreams.
There is a wealth of
evidence
suggesting a connection to the levels of consciousness
with the afterlife realms as described in near-death
testimonies. The dream realm and the afterlife
realms both are realms of the mind, soul, and
spirit. In the realms of the mind, all thoughts
and things are possible. Death is merely a process
of freeing your true essence from all physical
limitations and fully inhabiting the realms
of thought and spirit. In the afterlife realms,
what one thinks is what matters most; because
thoughts are deeds in those realms. There, we
are what we think and there is no hiding from
who we really are. One NDE experiencer,
St. Teresa of Avila, described it perfectly,
"After you die, you wear what you are."
And
if a person reads enough NDE testimonies, it
becomes possible to create a "map" describing
the soul's journey after death -- at least from
the NDE perspective. This article will attempt
to give the reader such a map based upon the
numerous NDE testimonies on this website.
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| The
case for ten or more afterlife realms |
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The following is a list from
science and religion which makes the case for ten or
more dimensions of reality.
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1. |
Quantum physicists, using
Superstring Theory, theorize a cosmology
consisting of
10 dimensions. The goal of theoretical
physics is to find the "holy grail" of physics--
the so-called "Theory
of Everything" (TOE) -- a theory
that explains all phenomena of reality.
Superstring Theory is widely believed to
be the closest TOE candidate.
M-Theory is a unification of all consistent
versions of Superstring Theory and adds
one more dimension -- a "Membrane" or "Matrix"
dimension -- for a total of
11 dimensions. Surprisingly, neuroscientists
have recently discovered the human brain
is full of multi-dimensional geometrical
structures operating in
as many as 11 dimensions. |
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2. |
Pythagoras, perhaps the first great
mathematician, believed the cosmos is divided
into
10 heavens based on the perfect number
10. |
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3. |
In
Jewish mysticism, God's entire creation
is composed of
10 emanations of Light from the
10 utterances of God "Let there be"
to create the world by
the perfect order of 10 along with a
hierarchy of
10 angelic realms and the law of the
10 commandments. |
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4. |
In Buddhism, there are
10 levels of realization toward enlightenment
and
10 directions of the Buddha's light
to
10 Buddha-realms. |
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5. |
Christian Gnostics believed in a cosmology
of
10 heavens which they based on information
from the death experience of the Apostle
Paul which they recorded in their scriptures
(Apocalypse of Paul). |
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6. |
In Islam, a legend exists where Muhammad
journeyed through
10 heavens which was probably a near-death
experience. |
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7. |
The Biblical prophet Enoch in his writings
(2 Enoch) mentions he ascended through the
10 heavens. |
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8. |
The Bible describes an angelic hierarchy
of
10 celestial powers [1]
[2]. |
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9. |
Edgar Cayce learned from his out-of-body
travels how our solar system's 10 major
spheres (Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars,
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto)
are three-dimensional physical representations
of the
10 afterlife realms. Cayce also revealed
how the human body is a microcosm of the
solar system. This cosmology was also taught
by Plato and Aristotle, and was included
in the doctrines of Hermeticism, Neoplatonism,
Islam, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, and all
cosmologies where
astrology was dominate.[1] |
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10. |
The Apostle Paul equated the
different degrees of glory of resurrected
bodies with the sun, moon and stars. Throughout
the Bible, there are references to multiple
realms:
third heaven,
the highest heavens,
heavens, and
many dwelling places. |
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11. |
During
Lynnclaire Dennis' NDE, she entered
into the light and saw the Universal Pattern
and Source of all life which was in a shape
that resembles an atom with electrons revolving
around it. Her pattern eventually caught
the eye of scientists because of its compatibility
with
the knotted pattern of 10-dimensional space
in physics. |
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12. |
Other experiencers, such as
George Ritchie and
Betty Eadie, as well as the Swedish
scientist
Emanuel Swedenborg, each observed multiple
levels in the hereafter.
Howard Storm had an extensive experience
in which he also observed multiple levels
in the afterlife.
Dr. PMH Atwater describes these multiple
dimensions as existing here within the same
space much like boxes within a box.
Metaphysical sources also describe a
multi-dimensional reality. |
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There are several conclusions
to make here:
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1. |
Heaven is not up and hell is not below. The
various afterlife realms are like various frequencies
on the light spectrum - most of which is invisible
to the naked eye. |
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2. |
We are already living in the "afterlife" right
now. This is because our experience in this
physical, three-dimensional universe is just
one of many realms we have experienced. |
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3. |
We do not have to die to experience the afterlife
and eternity. Eternity is not something that
begins after death. We are already in eternity
now - the "eternal now." |
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The
nature of the afterlife realms |
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 P.M.H.
Atwater uses a good analogy when describing death and
the various afterlife realms: "There is a step-up of
energy at the moment of death, an increase in speed
as if you are suddenly vibrating faster than before.
Using radio as an analogy, this speed-up is comparable
to having lived all your life at a certain radio frequency
when all of a sudden someone or something comes along
and flips the dial. That flip shifts you to different
frequency. The original frequency where you once existed
is still there. It did not change. Everything is still
just the same as it was. Only you changed, only you
speeded up to allow entry into the next radio frequency
on the dial. You fit your particular spot on the dial
by your speed of vibration. You cannot coexist forever
where you do not belong. You shift frequencies in dying.
You switch over to life on another wavelength. You are
still a spot on the dial but you move up or down a notch
or two. You don't die when you die. You shift your consciousness
and speed of vibration. That's all death is ... a shift."
(P.M.H.
Atwater)
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| The
six major afterlife realms |
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The graph below represents a
map through the major afterlife realms which experiencers
have encountered during their near-death experiences.
No experiencer that I am aware of has encountered every
afterlife realm depicted on the graph. Most experiencers
have experienced three or four realms. Looking at the
graph, one can see how the afterlife journey begins
with the death of the physical body in the physical
realm (Realm 1) which is the physical universe -- planet
Earth for humans. After death, humans travel through
various afterlife realms with the ultimate goal of becoming
a permanent citizen of the God Realm (Realm 6). This
is accomplished through the process of
reincarnation
-- "trial and error" -- through multiple lifetimes in
which we gradually become "perfected". A good analogy
of humanity's journey through the afterlife realms,
as represented by the graph below, is to think of the
afterlife realms as God's "Corporate Ladder" of success.
We begin employment at the ground level (Realm 1) the
physical universe. Through hard work and on-the-job
education, humanity is gradually climbing God's corporate
ladder with the goal of becoming a "full partner" with
the "Boss" -- God -- at the "corporate level" (Realm
6). However, this analogy only works from our current
life's point-of-view and gives the erroneous suggestion
that the earth realm in Physical Realm 1 is an inferior
realm. The fact is we are soul/spirit beings who have
had a multitude of past life experiences on earth and
perhaps even in the Soul and Spirit Realms -- through
the process of reincarnation.
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 According
to the previous Case
for Ten or More Afterlife Realms, the planets of
our solar system are three-dimensional physical representations
of invisible other-dimensional afterlife realms inhabiting
the same space. As a whole, these afterlife realms represent
the dimensions of consciousness of our solar system
as part of the vast system of Universal Mind. Each solar
system is analagous to a "university" and a single expression
of the divine with its planets and planes of consciousness
acting as integral parts each at a different vibratory
level. The planet Earth is the third planet from the
sun and is where three-dimensional life is represented
in the solar system. There are other intelligent three-dimensional
life forms living in other solar systems experiencing
their own soul evolution. Each solar system in the universe
is also analagous to an atom in a universe of atoms.
Each solar system represents an opportunity for development,
advancement, and growth toward the ideal of complete
companionship with God -- the position of co-creator.
The idea of the soul existing as a "speck" in a seemingly
endless universe is only an illusion. After death, the
soul expands and transcends the physical universe. Also,
the human body is a microcosm of the solar system with
the
endocrine glands acting as energy centers (chakras)
with each planetary afterlife realm having some
astrological influence over a particular energy
center. After death, the soul travels through the various
dimensions of the Soul Realms associated with the solar
system. If the soul has learned all the lessons necessary
to progress further, the soul meets with spirit guides
and enters the Spirit Realms as spirit. The soul, which
is the subconscious mind, is no longer needed, and the
individual enters the Spirit Realms as pure superconsciousness
-- spirit.
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| A Brief Description
of the Six Major Afterlife Realms |
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Realm 1 |
The
Physical
Realm -- In the universe, the planet
Earth is where
humanity
experiences birth,
life,
and death.
Religion,
science,
and
war play dominant roles here. This is the
realm of "cause and effect" (karma) where we
come to be tested in ways only a physical experience
can. The universe is inhabited by other intelligent
beings according to a combination of the
Drake Equation and the multitude of credible
UFO sightings which have been documented
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4].
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Realm 2 |
The
Earthbound Realm -- After death,
a person may immediately find themself
out-of-body and inhabiting a
soul/spirit body while observing their physical
body from below. Some people have observed a
silver
cord connecting their physical body to their
spirit body. This is the earthbound realm because
it exists in the same dimension as the physical
realm except that its inhabitants are invisible
to those living in the physical realm. However,
psychics living in the physical realm are
able to contact inhabitants of the earthbound
realm through mental
telepathy.
The earthbound realm is also known by other
names such as the
astral plane, the
dream realm, the world of
hungry ghosts, and
hell.
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Realm 3 |
The
Void -- This is a
timeless
realm of complete and profound darkness - empty
of everything except for the thought and emotional
patterns of those who enter it. It is a perfect
place for its inhabitants to examine themselves,
contemplate their recent earth experience, and
decide where to go next. For some people, the
Void is a heavenly experience because, in the
absence of everything else, they are able to
see perfectly the love and light within themselves.
For others, the Void can be terrifying or confusing
because of an inability or unwillingness to
see the love and light within. There is no judgment
by God in the Void. There is only the possibility
of self-judgment - a harsher form of self-understanding.
The Void is where people undergo "ego
death" where the "mask" of
the personality is dissolved to allow the individuality
of the soul to be experienced in relation to
the Whole which is God. Many NDE experiencers
find themselves immediately in the Void upon
clinical death; and for many, the Void is as
far as they go in their NDE as well.
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Portal |
The
Tunnel -- Near-death experiencers
report being drawn into and through a "tunnel"
at an extremely high speed toward a radiant
light. Some experiencers have seen other souls
with them in the tunnel in the form of
orbs.
Some experiencers have seen other souls around
the edges of the tunnel calling out to them
or trying to grab the experiencer.
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Station |
The Receiving
Station -- This temporary transit
area is a kind of heavenly sorting area where
the destination of souls is decided. It has
been described as a kind of heavenly way station,
a heavenly amphitheater, or a heavenly
airport terminal. Here is where the experiencer
may have a
homecoming
with deceased loved ones, meet with
spirit guides, meet a religious leader they
admired such as
Jesus,
have a
life
review, and receive
forgotten knowledge of both the
past and the
future.
The NDE experiencer is then sent back to life
on earth -- usually after
being told they are not ready to die. Examples
of the Receiving Station in NDEs can be found
here:
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5] |
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Realm 4 |
The
Soul Realms -- The Soul
Realms are composed of seven invisible planetary
afterlife realms associated with seven planets
in our solar system not including earth - which
is itself a living organism called "Gaia".
Our three-dimensional sun, in another-dimensional
afterlife realm, is a itself a Being of Light.
After death, souls usually incarnate to a number
of Soul Realms between earth lifetimes until
the soul has attained its proper level of soul
growth and is ready for advancement to the Spirit
Realms. When a soul incarnates into an earth
life from a number of Soul Realms, the soul
will manifest the influences of those realms
from which it came. In each realm we deal mostly
with our choices made in our most recent earth
incarnation. We do this by focusing mostly on
a single aspect of our soul development associated
with that realm. For example, in one particular
Soul Realm we deal mostly with our unfinished
emotional business left over from our past
incarnation. In another realm, a mental realm,
we deal mostly with
karmic memories. In another realm, we deal
mostly with our desires and passions. Souls
live in communities with those whom share a
like sympathy such as with family and friends.
Souls occasionally take trips into other realms
and return again to use those experiences in
their soul communities -- just as people on
earth do during
dreams and NDEs. This is accomplished under
the guidance and protection of souls and spirits
who have taken this as their ministry. The only
difference is that after death, souls do not
sleep and they vividly recall the experience
of having traveled to another realm. |
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Realm 5 |
The
Spirit Realms -- After
all the Soul Realms associated with our solar
system have been fully experienced and all the
lessons have been fully learned and the proper
level of soul growth has been attained, the
soul can move on to Spirit Realms associated
with constellations and star systems around
the spiritual universe. Some NDE experiencers
have met their "Higher Self" in this realm.
Some experiencers have described seeing a
City of Light or a "galaxy" of light. |
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Realm 6 |
The
God Realm -- The highest
realm is completely outside of the universe.
This is the "God Realm" and it is the ultimate
destination of every spirit. NDE experiencers
have described becoming completely absorbed
into -- or at-one-with --
God --
in this Realm. The God Realm is also known by
various religious traditions as "Vaikuntha"
(Hinduism), "Tian"
(Taoism and Confucianism), "Akanishtha"
(Buddhism), "Shamayim"
(Judaism), the "Kingdom
of God" (Christianity), and "Jannah"
(Islam). It is possible that there are a multitude
of these realms as well. |
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The
many NDE pathways through the afterlife realms |
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There is one particular aspect
to near-death testimonies that varies greatly from each
other and it is the path by which experiencers travel
to reach various afterlife realms. By analyzing the
various NDE testimonies on this website, a diagram of
the numerous pathways to these various afterlife realms
has been created.
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There are very likely other
paths but these are the ones I have encountered most
often. Lets go through each path one at a time.
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The
Earthbound Realm
(ER) consists of hell realms located in the same space
as the Physical
Realm (PR) except the ER and its inhabitants are
invisible to those inhabiting the PR except, of course,
by those who are psychic enough to sense them. The transition
to the ER after death is so subtle that many souls who
travel there are not even aware they have died. Several
cases in point are
Dr. George Ritchie and
Dr. Dianne Morrissey. Both of these experiencers
dwelt in the ER for extended periods of time until they
saw their dead body and realized they were dead. Any
NDE where the experiencer is out-of-body and can observe
their dead body from a distance is an experience in
the ER. The ER is a temporary state of mind and soul
after death of having earthly, physical desires that
can no longer be satisfied. It is also a condition resulting
from living a hellish lifetime with little or no soul
growth. The condition is neither condemnation, judgment,
nor punishment. It is the natural consequences (karma)
of living such a life. It is a painful condition similar
to "withdrawl symptoms." It is a purification process
much like the Catholic concept of purgatory. It ends
when those in such a condition are willing to see the
light and love within themselves and others which is
God.
Other great ER experiences can
be found in the NDEs of
Howard Storm,
Howard Pittman,
Josiane Antonette,
David Oakford,
Don Brubaker,
Angie Fenimore,
Lorraine Tutmarc, and
Mellen-Thomas Benedict.
Other earthbound descriptions
are from: Dr. Dianne Morrissey (the complete account
in her book),
Josiane Antonette, Rev. Howard Pittman, Emanuel
Swedenborg and Ruth Montgomery." (Kevin
Williams)
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"Some people report entering the void
immediately after death without having to go through
the tunnel. Others do report entering the void through
the tunnel. Some people, such as Dr. George Ritchie,
do not go through a tunnel but are led from one
realm to the other by a Being of Light." (Kevin
Williams)
"One of the best descriptions of the
void comes from the near-death account of Mellen-Thomas
Benedict. It is also one of the best and profound
near-death accounts you will read. Other excellent
void descriptions can be found in the NDEs of: Guenter
Wagner, Dr. George Ritchie, Rev. Howard Storm, Angie
Fenimore, RaNelle Wallace, and Don Brubaker." (Kevin
Williams)
"Some people describe entering the
void either through the tunnel or not through the
tunnel. Once in the void, some people immediately
return to their body and their NDE is over. Other
people, such as Guenter Wagner, have an extended
experience in the void and then return to their
bodies. But in the map above, you can see that some
people leave the void then enter heaven. Once in
the void, the only way out of it is through the
love you have cultivated within you during life.
In the void, once a person begins to think, remember,
feel and realize love, the tunnel opens and you
enter toward the light. Some people, such as Linda
Stewart, leave the void with the help of a Being
of Light. The void is totally devoid of love and
light and the only way you can be attracted to the
light is by realizing the love within you.
"One of the best descriptions
concerning the transition from the earth to void
to heaven is the near-death account of Rev. Howard
Storm. Another near-death account involving a trip
through the void on the way to heaven is the near-death
account of Linda Stewart. (Kevin
Williams)
"Some people do not report an experience
with the earthbound realm or the void. The travel
to heaven directly my means of the tunnel. For example,
Edgar Cayce traveled through the tunnel literally
thousands of times and during each time, he would
be able to see all the levels of the afterlife passing
by him as he went straight to heaven to get his
information. Why some people enter heaven by different
methods is anyone's guess. Perhaps people travel
to afterlife realms according to how much they have
earned it in life and in past lives. This would
explain some children have experiences in heaven
without having to earn it in their current life
and this suggests to me that they have earned it
in a previous life. That is just my 2 cents worth."
(Kevin
Williams)
"One of the best descriptions concerning
the transition from the earth directly to heaven
is the near-death account of Betty Eadie. Other
NDEs involving a direct trip to heaven are from:
Dannion Brinkley, Jayne Smith, David Goines, Jan
Price, May Eulitt, Carl Jung, Edgar Cayce, and John
Star." (Kevin
Williams)
"An interesting aspect of near-death
accounts is that if one reads enough of them, one
begins to understand the various transitions from
the earth to heaven. The map above represents near-death
accounts that involve all the first three levels
(earthbound, void, heaven). Some of these reports,
such as Dr. George Ritchie's, are virtually guided
tours by a Being of Light. Often, these kind of
experiences are the most transcendental." (Kevin
Williams)
"Those cases who came closest to death,
or were clinically dead, just as Moody's cases reported,
told of being outside of their bodies, of moving
through a void or dark tunnel toward a luminous
light, of meeting with departed relatives and friends,
of having a feeling of great comfort and bliss and
of being surrounded by compassionate love, a feeling
so beautiful they longed to remain, and when they
returned to the earthly realm, they were affected
by this feeling the rest of their lives." (Dr.
Kenneth Ring)
Edgar Cayce would leave his body and
become oppressed by the darkness. He would then
experience a tremendous feeling of loneliness. He
would then see a white beam of light and know that
he must follow it or be lost. Whenever he would
move through the tunnel toward the light, he would
travel through various afterlife levels where unusual
beings dwelled. On the first afterlife level, there
were vague, horrible, grotesque forms such as one
would see in a nightmare. Moving on, he would see
on either side of the tunnel, misshapen forms of
human beings with some part of the body magnified.
He would also see people on both sides of the tunnel
calling out to him for help and trying to get his
attention. But Cayce knew that any deviation from
the tunnel would mean that he wouldn't be able to
return to his body. As he moved farther up the tunnel,
the darkness would become lighter and the realm
more colorful. At the end of the tunnel, he would
then enter the Hall of Records, the heavenly source
for the information he obtains. (Edgar
Cayce)
Howard Pittman entered the second
realm (the void) where no love existed and where
demons there were participating in their area of
expertise in tormenting souls. Pittman was then
taken to the first realm (the earthbound realm)
which he learned was in a spirit realm near the
earth where demons stalk the living. It was in this
realm that he saw demons in all shapes and forms.
He was then led back to the second realm and to
the entrance to a tunnel where angels were leading
souls to the third realm (identified as one of the
heavenly realms). (Rev.
Howard Pittman)
Jan Price saw the skyline of a great
city with three different dimensions. The first
had a dinginess pervading the atmosphere. There
was a gloominess, and everything was gray, even
the inhabitants, but she sensed that somewhere beneath
the discoloration pulsed life and beauty. It brought
to her mind the lowest levels of existence in the
world from which she came. Evil walked the squalid
streets with malevolent bearing. No one there was
up to, or expected, any good. From that dark dimension,
each succeeding higher dimension became more colorful
and more light. (Jan
Price)
After death we work our way up through
the various levels of consciousness. We go through
the tunnel and are able to go through the darker
levels, which can represent a form of hell or purgatory,
because these are the two negative levels, or the
darker ones. But if we've been a good person, we
generally just seem to pass through them very quickly
and then we go on through the third and fourth levels
of consciousness. When we go through these levels
we meet our relatives and friends greeting us at
the end of the tunnel where they're waiting and
lead us into the light." (George
Anderson)
As
Mellen-Thomas Benedict passed into the second
light [the void], he expanded beyond the first light.
He found himself in a profound stillness, beyond
all silence. He could see or perceive FOREVER, beyond
Infinity. He realized that he was in the void. He
realized he was in pre-creation, before the Big
Bang. He had crossed over the beginning of time
and into the Eye of Creation. He felt as if he was
touching the Face of God and was at one with Absolute
Life and Consciousness. Mellen-Thomas described
the void this way: "The
void is less than nothing, yet more than everything
that is! The void is absolute zero; chaos forming
all possibilities. It is much more than even Universal
Intelligence. The void is inside and outside everything.
You, right now even while you live, are always inside
and outside the void simultaneously. You don't have
to go anywhere or die to get there. The void is
the vacuum or nothingness between all physical manifestations.
The SPACE between atoms and their components. Modern
science calls it zero-point. The void is completely
out of time and space as we know it. The void itself
is devoid of experience. It is pre-life, before
the first vibration. While Mellen-Thomas was in
the void, he was aware of everything that had ever
been created. It was like he was looking through
the eyes of God. Suddenly he wasn't him anymore;
he had become God." (Mellen-Thomas
Benedict)
"Some people on the way to heaven
first enter a heavenly receiving station where other
souls are seen entering into as well. This receiving
station is a place where people can meet deceased
relatives and friends, have a life review, and/or
move on to other structures within heaven. Some
of these other structures that have been seen is
a heavenly temple, a heavenly library, or a temple
of knowledge. At this point, there are other higher
heavens to go and it is my opinion that these are
beyond the reach of people having an NDE. Often,
it is in this first heavenly realm where people
are told they must return. The following are experiences
with this heavenly receiving stations." (Kevin
Williams)
Diego Valencia entered a dim, colorless,
train station-like realm where grayish entities
were being helped by guides from a foggy realm near
earth. He was then given the decision to either
return to his body or stay. (Diego
Valencia)
George Ritchie entered the earthbound
realm where he observed souls stalking the living
because of some earthly desire. In the second realm
(the void), he observed angry spirits locked into
hand to hand combat, trying in vain to hurt each
other. In the third realm, he observes souls being
led into a heavenly weigh station. After visiting
a heavenly library, he is shown a distant city made
of brilliant light. Its description resembled the
city described in the Book of Revelation. (Dr.
George Ritchie)
Dr. Michael Newton's research of afterlife
experiencers yielded the following conclusions:
All souls, regardless of experience, eventually
arrive at a central port in the spirit world that
is like a staging area for orientation. Once past
this station there seems to be no further detour.
A large number of returning souls are transported
in a kind of spiritual form of mass transit. Souls
are brought in, collected, and then projected out
to their proper final destinations similar to a
central terminal of a metropolitan airport that
has the capacity to fly people out in any direction.
The most outstanding characteristic of this place
is a continuous feeling of a powerful mental force
directing everything in uncanny harmony. Some have
said that this is a realm of pure thought. (Dr.
Michael Newton)
David Oakford was taken to a great
city in the shadow and clouds above earth which
he discovered was heaven. He observed the souls
of humans and animals flying to and from the great
city and back to the earth. He observed many souls
coming to the city with guides. Some of the souls
were sad, beaten and scared. In the city, David
entered a large building where he had a life review.
(David
Oakford)
Ned Dougherty was in the deepest void
of space feeling comfortable and at home. Ned then
entered into a magnificent ethereal structure. This
heavenly structure resembled an amphitheater made
of a brilliant, crystal-like substance. The amphitheater
was suspended in the void of space in the same fashion
that a space station might hover in space. The amphitheater
was similar in size to a sports stadium and conveyed
a great majesty. It was here that Ned experienced
a life review. (Ned
Dougherty)
One woman went through a black tunnel
and entered a black void of absolute nothingness.
She discovered that the darkness existed in every
direction. She sensed an entity in the darkness
with her and she asked it, "What happened?" Through
telepathy, the entity replied, "You're dead." The
entities reply was as if it enjoyed telling her
this. As soon as she realized this, a clear white
bright light brought her into a huge, wonderful,
stadium or amphitheater where love and music emanated
from it. (P.
Anderson)
"As we walked along together to find
Jesus, I noticed there was one building larger than
all the others. It looked like a football stadium
with an open end to the building where a blinding
light radiated from it. I tried to look up at the
light but I couldn't. It was too brilliant. Many
people seemed to be bowed in front of this building
in adoration and prayer. I said to my parents, 'What
is that?' They said, 'In there is God.'" (An
accountant)
"There was no tunnel or light. I 'awoke'
standing upright in the back of what looked like
a large auditorium-type place, without the chairs.
The wall were gold and had jewels embedded in them.
I was far in the back at first and couldn't figure
out where I was. There were horns playing loud classical-type
music and it was a very formal-type ceremony. There
were dancers with beautifully colored flags dancing
in a supernatural sort of way. I felt my presence
coming in closer, but I didn't feel legs moving
underneath me." (Lisa)
"In luxuriant warmth we moved on,
drawn higher into the valley, moving toward the
Source of the light. I made a single turn, and the
meadow suddenly became an amphitheater. On a stage
that seemed to be suspended in front of me, I witnessed,
with my grandmother, what seemed to be an encore
performance of my life." (Lynnclaire
Dennis)
There exists a kind of weigh station
in the spirit realm which is a transient place where
souls decide their next destination. This transient
place is the junction between various cosmic realms.
It is both a usual and an unusual place related
to the soul's evolution. (Edgar
Cayce)
Carter Mills was taken to a suspended
platform where he met a being so powerful that he
thought it was God. The angels bowed and took
their places with two others at the platform's four
corners. Carter learned that the powerful being
was Jesus. Carter is then led through a life review.
(Carter
Mills)
5. The connection between
the body and afterlife realms
According to
Edgar Cayce, Eastern mysticism, and NDE studies,
the human body is a receiver of cosmic energy (like
a radio) for which we are able to connect with spiritual
realms in the afterlife. This "receiver" aspect
of the human body is made up of a system of endocrine
glands within our body (see chart on the right)
which are points of contact to an associated system
of spiritual energy centers (called "chakras" in
the East) which are collectively called the "subtle"
or "astral body" (or simply the "soul"). The soul
body is the "vehicle" by which people have near-death
experiences, out-of-body experiences, and lucid
dreams for example. Near-death experiencers such
as Cayce and Mellen-Thomas Benedict have described
how our solar system is actually a physical representation
of our higher spirit body. This revelation explains
how planetary-astrological forces can influence
us here on earth.
The soul body is also
the energetic form of the physical body. The spiritual
centers of the soul body are points of contact where
the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of
the body come together. Each spiritual center associated
with an endocrine gland is also a point of contact
to a particular invisible afterlife realm represented
physically by one of the planets of our solar system
(see the chart below). Cayce identified a particular
afterlife realm by giving it the same name as its
corresponding planets in our solar system. For example,
the planet Jupiter is the 5th planet from the sun
and is the physical manifestation of an invisible
afterlife realm that is 7th in the afterlife hierarchy.
The pituitary gland - the "master" gland of the
body - is associated with the "third eye" chakra
in Eastern religions and is the point of contact
connecting our physical body to 7th afterlife realm
represented physically by the planet Jupiter.
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Each
spiritual energy center corresponds to one of the
seven notes on a musical scale: C, D, E, F, G, A,
B. Each spiritual center also corresponds to a color
on the light spectrum of which there are seven:
red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet
(or white). The positive and negative "vibes" a
person is outwardly exposed to in life can influence
the inward functioning of the endocrine glands and
their corresponding spiritual center. The dominant
vibration - positive or negative - within a person's
body reflects which spiritual center is dominant
within a person's life. It is the dominant vibration
of a person's life - body and spirit - which determines
the level of the corresponding afterlife realm they
have attained. Certain yoga meditation techniques
(such as chanting mantras) have been used in the
East to raise the quality of the spiritual energy
vibration to help heal the mind, body and spirit.
| NDE
insights concerning the various afterlife
realms |
"In the afterlife, our thoughts are
no longer private, but become known to all around
us. People of the same kind of thoughts are drawn
to each other because it is too threatening to be
with others with whom we disagree when they know
it." (Dr. George Ritchie)
"After death, people gravitate into
homogenous groups according to the rate of their
soul's vibrations. If the percentage of discord
in a person is small, it can be eliminated by the
Master-Vibration of God; then the remaining good
can live there. However, if there is more discord
within a soul's vibrations than good, this cannot
be done and the person must gravitate to a lower
afterlife level and live with people of their kind. Each
person lives in the kind of a heaven or hell which
they prepared for themselves while on earth. Nobody
sends us anywhere. We are sorted by the high or
low vibrations of our soul. Everyone goes where
they fit in." (Arthur Yensen)
"After death, the dimension of the
afterlife we travel to is determined by the level
of spiritual development we have attained while
on earth." (Edgar Cayce)
"In the afterlife, everyone is free
to visit the various afterlife realms and nothing
is restricted. The only governor is the state of
the conscious mind. Deeply held beliefs come into
visible expression there. Not everyone has the same
experience because everyone creates his or her own
experience. Subtle energies slowly open restrictive,
closed minds in order to accept greater understanding."
(Jan Price)
"We can not dwell in the higher spiritual
realms until we have perfectly qualified for it
by a change of heart and mind, a significant amount
of preparation, and by completing our mission."
(Dr. Craig Lundahl)
"Those living in the higher realms
radiate the brightest light and their glory must
be cloaked when people in the lower realms look
at them. It is possible for people in the lower
realms to visit higher realms, but they must be
prepared or covered so they can stand in the presence
of greater glory." (Dr. Craig Lundahl)
"Our earth experience determines our
afterlife destiny, but no one is locked there, and
each can progress to higher and higher levels of
being." (Jan Price)
"How does a person get ahead of others
in the afterlife? They don't. There is no place
in heaven for discontent or personal ambition. Some
people may not be able to change at all after they
arrive in the afterlife. On earth, we can change
ourselves quite easily and should use this life
to make ourselves into the kind of people we want
to be in the afterlife." (Arthur Yensen)
"Death is merely the doorway to the
next level of soul growth and evolution." (Edgar
Cayce)
"In the afterlife, death on earth
is considered a graduation." (Rev. Howard Storm)
"Infants who die are taken in spirit
to a place where they are nurtured, taught and mature."
(Dr. Craig Lundahl)
"There are heavenly hospitals full
of injured and crippled souls - the result of their
hard faring on earth - who are nursed back to health
so that they can begin their work in heaven." (Dr.
Craig Lundahl)
"To travel from one point to another
in the afterlife, all one has to do is think about
it." (Dr. Dianne Morrissey)
"Those on the other side can observe
what is happening on earth whenever they choose
to do so." (Jan Price)
"Each afterlife realm has a theme
for learning. The physical realm exists for us to
test our ideals and learn from them." (David Oakford)
"How we lived our life on earth determines
which heavenly realm we have earned and travel to
after death. We choose our own pace through the
afterlife realms." (Betty Bethards)
"The afterlife realms are experiences
of enjoyment and recreation. People do things they
enjoy and keep company with people they enjoy in
a realm of joyful activity. The skills, interests,
and abilities developed on earth may be reflected
in the roles chosen in eternity. We contribute uniquely
toward the goodness and beauty in the realm we inhabit
which is vast and of transcendent beauty. Our quality
of life in spirit is directly affected by our heart
and activities on earth. Opportunities for practicing
love continues." (Nora Spurgin)
"The most difficult thing for a person
who has been deeply steeped in a particular religious
tradition is to realize that the form alone is not
what elevates a person; it is the heart. Still,
those who cling to an external form of religion
will be most comfortable with others who practice
the same rituals, whatever they may be. In this
sense, congregations may continue centered around
the particular religious traditions they practiced
while on earth." (Nora Spurgin)
"Our moral obligation to help others
continues after death. Death does not eliminate
our obligations. We are still given opportunities
in spirit realms to freely serve others." (Margaret
Tweddell)
"In heaven, we can remember our real
identity and know what possibilities exist for soul
growth. We do not move forward until we choose to."
(Dr. PMH Atwater)
"After death, we can choose to observe
people on earth to see how they deal with situations.
Our behavior on earth provides a teaching ground
for those in spirit." (Betty Bethards)
"When a soul incarnates to earth,
they will be more influenced by the afterlife realm
they just came from, the planet it represents, and
the astrological configuration at the time of their
birth. These planetary influences allow us to receive
certain lessons and tests related to our karma.
Our free will has absolute power over any planetary
or heavenly realm - even God." (Edgar Cayce)
"A heavenly computer exists in the
spirit realm that is designed to help us choose
our destiny." (Dr. Allen Kellehear's research)
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