When I had my Near-Death Experiences in the 1970's I remember seeing my life review and related events through "bubbles" of consciousness, not unlike those theatrically depicted in the movie, "Brainstorm."
Some Near-death experiencers that I interviewed while I worked as a researcher at the University of Connecticut Medical School variously reported seeing light, a tunnel, bubbles, some even see darkness, perhaps in the way that St. John of the Cross or Pseudo-Dionysius have described, and so on. Whatever the nature of the vision that we have during our NDE, it is a profoundly deep experience and it is unique to each of us.
If you have had an NDE, what was the nature of what you saw, and what are your thoughts about it?
Please use the LEAVE A COMMENT link beneath the post to add your comments.
Barbara
PS also check out our friends at NHNE !
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13 comments:
Dear Mam,
I read your NDE on near-death.com.
In fact, I have read pretty much everything there is to read on that website and must say your story was by far the most compelling one that exists there. It was also one of the few written in perfect English from top to bottom. Just thought I'd let you know...regards...
Jim T.
Well, thank you very much Jim!
Barbara Whitfield
Hello Barbara,
I wonder if I may ask you a question or two re your NDE.
At any point in the 'bubble review' you experienced, did you ever feel coerced or pushed into cooperating or participating in this event, or was it more something you were naturally willing to do? Also, were you able to identify the Being or Light or Energy that was with you during the review as anything or anyone other than God?
Thanks in advance,
Jim
Never felt coerced.
All I felt was overwhelming love from this Presence. I did however, feel what I was feeling and the other people were feeling in each
scene in the bubbles. But the feeling of love that I felt from the Presence was the bigger -- meaning that my relationship with the Presence was the most important
and still is when I remember to choose God over my ego (see The Natural Soul about choosing our Soul over choosing the ego.) I couldn't call It God for many years. When I saw the first Star Wars in 1978 (my NDEs were 1975) and they talked about the Force -- that was the first name I gave to It.
Now I'm comfortable calling It God but I think Presence is an even better term.
Barbara Whitfield
Thank you Barbara....I appreciate your response...regards....Jim
I recall too that in your NDE you used to call your grandmother Bubbie. That name is very similar to the word 'bubble', which might explain why you had a 'bubble review'. I know of no other NDE review like yours and so began to ask myself 'why the bubbles'. I suspect the connection can be explained through your link to your grandmother, as there are no coincidences in my opinion.
Regards,
Jim
Yes but there was a movie several years ago, in fact it was Natalie Wood's last movie called BrainStorm where they show
a woman dying, I think it was Louise Fletcher.
We go through her death with her and she has a life review with bubbles. Dr. Stan Grof was the advisor to that movie and he suggested the bubbles. Seems that when he did his research on LSD and then with his holotropic breath work, that people reported seeing bubbles.
Barbara Whitfield
Still, you're NDE review is unique among all those detailed on near-death.com, for example, and the number of NDEs on that website is close to 200, all of which would be considered authentic.
Research suggests there is a distinct difference between the authentic NDE and experiences induced by hallucinogens, for example. If this is so, then I'm not sure the movie Brainstorm gives us much insight.
What I can say is that your experience seems very unique, which is why I wondered about the bubbles. If you know of any authentic NDE where the review was portrayed in bubbles I would be interested in reading about it.
Having said that, I would like to say again that I found your NDE account to be very powerful and it is my hope that many will benefit from reading your story.
Regards,
Jim
Barbara,
I've read that there is some conjecture about the origin of NDEs that says that they are merely a physical phenomenon --something that our brain generates when it is in certain states, and not something that is outside of us. In other words, nothing divine at all.
What are your thoughts about that and is there any scientific evidence that either supports or denies it?
Thanks,
DB
Hi DB,
Since I have been involved with the NDE research, this is a question that always comes up over and over.
Finally, there is a clear documentary that addresses this at the end. It is called "The Day I Died" and in the last ten minutes a scientist very clearly addresses this question.
There are six 10 minute segments and your answer is in the last one.
The link to "The Day I Died" is: http://nhneneardeath.ning.com/forum/topics/nde-documentary-the-day-i-died?xg_source=activity
Or you can go to youtube and type in "The Day I Died"
Thanks for writing,
Barbara
Hi Barbara,
Now that you mention it, I think I've seen that, but I'm going to go back to have a look at it again.
By the way, are you ever on any of the television shows that look into NDEs and related phenomena?
If so, which ones and how do I find them.
Thanks,
DB
DB,
In the 1980s and early 90s I was on most of the TV talk shows and some documentaries. If you go to www.barbarawhitfield.com
there are several pages of photos and stories about the talk shows I did back then, including Donahue, Larry King, Joan Rivers etc.
Now in October 2010, The Bio Channel (Biography Channel sponsored with A and E) will be showing an interview I just did on a new series called "Beyond and Back." If you miss it, don't worry, it will be shown over and over. They interviewed me for four and a half hours and that will be edited down to about 20 minutes because my interview will be one of three over the hour.
I've seen the pilot and this production company is doing a "first class" job with this. It' worth looking for!
Barbara
Barbara,
Thanks! You've been busy!
db
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