While recently conducting research for a potential post, a fresh realization struck me: The after effects of people who had NDEs are similar to those I experienced after encountering the spirits of the Goldfield Hotel in central Nevada. Perhaps facing the paranormal altered my consciousness in a similar way, a navigation that showed me we are more than our physical bodies and rewired my perceptions of reality, the Most Divine and the spirit dimensions.

The International Association for Near Death Experiences (IANDS) defines NDEs as

“a profound psychological event that may occur to a person close to death or, if not near death, in a situation of physical or emotional crisis. Because it includes transcendental and mystical elements, an NDE is a powerful event of consciousness….”

By VInce Petaccio

Photo credit: Vince Petaccio

IANDS lists the major psychological changes from NDEs. Among those on their list, these are the ones I related to:

  • loss of the fear of death,
  • more spiritual and less religious,
  • formation of expansive concepts of love,
  • increased intuitive/psychic abilities and
  • a hunger for knowledge/increased curiosity.

When I read Dr. Eben Alexander’s Proof of Heaven (see my post, A Neurosurgeon Provides Proof of Heaven 5/8/2013), I found that many of my thoughts regarding the afterlife mirrored his, especially that we’re recipients of an amazing intensity of divine love, one so strong that “nothing can ever tear us away from God.”

On “Super Soul Sunday,” he further said that his experience impacted everything in his life and that he was given a beautiful gift in knowing that God is real, and that faith isn’t about believing in one religion. We are here on earth to help each other and manifest unconditional love. He added that our souls are connected and death is merely a transition.

I came to these same conclusions shortly after spending my night at the Goldfield. The ghostly events I faced that fall of 2007 led to the most amazing blessings of insight I will probably ever receive. Was it because the spirit encounters opened my heart and mind? Or seeing that the spirit realm truly exists helped me drop my fears of a vengeful God and death? I will probably never know the answer.

Like an NDE, experiencing overwhelming proof of life after death radically altered my perceptions, beliefs and priorities. It also helped me to more fully embrace the spiritual entity that I truly am.

I would love to hear if any of you experienced NDE-like results after facing unexpected paranormal activity. I can’t believe I’m the only one here who has.