| There may be a fine line between mystical | | | | was in her 30's. She went to a beautiful place of |
| experience and hallucinations. On the one hand, our | | | | peace but was told she had to return to earth. |
| imaginations are boundless and our connection | | | | She also tells me of having conversations in |
| with other realms is limitless. I suppose one way | | | | dreams with her husband (my grandfather) after |
| to tell whether the experience is indicative of a | | | | his death. Since I too had spoken with him, I didn't |
| mental disorder or if it is truly an experience of | | | | think it strange. After his death he came to me in |
| God would be to evaluate it's fruit or outcome. If | | | | a dream with advice that I followed. As a result |
| someone says that they had a mystical | | | | my daughter and I were able to come to an |
| experience in which God told them to kill another | | | | understanding on an issue that we were unable to |
| person, we'd call them crazy in our society. Then | | | | resolve before. |
| again, Muhammad killed people when implementing | | | | I was burned in a grease fire that set my |
| his revelation from God, and we honor him as a | | | | mother's kitchen ablaze when I was seventeen. |
| saint. Maybe that's not a good way to tell since | | | | During the event, I saw my life pass before me. |
| right and wrong differs from one country or | | | | Even though I was in pain, I did not feel afraid of |
| culture to another. People have looked at me like | | | | dying, yet I knew my time was not up. I slipped |
| I was crazy when I've told them about my own | | | | and fell in a puddle of grease I could not get up. |
| mystical experiences. From that, I gather that | | | | With the flames encircling me, I prayed and asked |
| reality to one person is not reality to another. | | | | the angels to put the fire out and help me get up. |
| Therefore, I'm not sure we can appraise or nullify | | | | Within minutes the flames ceased and I walked |
| a person's spiritual experience. | | | | out of the house to a neighbor who took me to |
| What about dreams? Are they mystical | | | | the hospital for treatment. |
| experiences? Some of mine have been crazy for | | | | In 1988 I had emergency gallbladder surgery. I |
| sure, but I also know I've heard from another | | | | was at death's door. I remember wanting to go |
| realm in a few of them. Then there is the book | | | | to the other side and really thought this was my |
| of Revelation in the Bible that is based entirely on | | | | ticket out of an unsatisfying marriage. I was |
| dreams and visions received by a prophet. | | | | disappointed to still be on earth when I awoke. |
| Western Christianity bases much of its belief | | | | I saw my uncle Edmond before his death while he |
| about the end times upon a dream dream | | | | was in coma and again within 24 hours after he |
| someone had almost 2000 years ago. The dream | | | | passed. He gave me the words to a poem he |
| has caused denominations to formulate doctrine | | | | wanted read at his graveside. I followed his |
| about a rapture of saints, a physical return of | | | | instruction. About a month after he died I was |
| Jesus Christ, (although they do not agree about | | | | sitting in my car while my husband went in to pay |
| when) and the end of the world as we know it. | | | | for gas. A man came out of the store with a |
| Since there are such diverse beliefs and theories | | | | pack of cigarettes and a cup of coffee |
| about death and the life thereafter, my personal | | | | (something so typical of my uncle). When he |
| belief comes from accounts I've read about | | | | made eye contact with me, it was Edmond 20 |
| regarding those who have had near death | | | | years younger. He said "thank you" (telepathically) |
| experiences (NDE) and from what I have | | | | then walked by my car. I turned my head to |
| personally experienced | | | | follow him, but he had vanished into thin air. He |
| No matter what the person's religion, those who | | | | had come to thank me for carrying out his |
| have had an NDE consistently share some | | | | wishes at his graveside. I related this to my mom |
| commonalities: | | | | and she said I needed to tell my grandmother |
| · They did not know they were dead | | | | because she also had contact with him. |
| · They could see what was going on here | | | | I can "feel" the presence of angels and the |
| · They saw a tunnel of light | | | | vibrational energies of departed spirits. I sense the |
| · They saw angels, Jesus or other saints | | | | energy of a room and instantly know if there is |
| · They had a choice of whether or not to | | | | an unseen presence. I've seen angels in my |
| return to the body | | | | bedroom at night and conversed with them in my |
| · They passed through a review of their | | | | dreams. I've had many similar experiences and |
| lives, saw areas that needed work, and were | | | | have concluded that those who pass to the other |
| inspired by the "judgment" rather than frightened | | | | side are very much alive and happy. Never have I |
| or condemned by it | | | | felt afraid of them or thought it strange that |
| · They had no fear of death after the | | | | these things happen. |
| experience | | | | A person's spiritual experience is personal and |
| From what I have personally experienced: | | | | should not be shunned or ridiculed by another |
| My grandmother has shared with me many times | | | | person. We are all on a spiritual path and we are |
| that she died during her hysterectomy when she | | | | one in spirit. |