~ Joyous Reunions With Deceased Loved Ones ~
©1995; by Bill Guggenheim & Judy Guggenheim

co-authors of Hello From Heaven! published by Bantam Books

Have you been contacted by a loved one who has died? After-death communication (ADC) is probably as old as mankind, but ours is the first complete research study of this field. These spiritual experiences are extremely common, and in many other parts of the world they are discussed openly and freely.

Between 1988 & 1995, we interviewed 2,000 people who live in all fifty American states and the ten Canadian provinces. Ranging in age from children to the elderly, they represent diverse social, educational, economic, occupational, and religious backgrounds. We conservatively estimate that at least 50 million Americans, or 20% of the population, have had one or more ADC experiences – and the actual numbers may be closer to double these figures!

We collected more than 3,300 firsthand accounts of ADCs from people who have been contacted by a deceased family member or friend. These are spontaneous and direct communications that may occur anytime and anywhere, but no third parties such as psychics, mediums, hypnotists, or devices of any kind are involved.

Based upon our research, the following are the twelve most frequent types of after-death communication people report having with their deceased loved ones:

Sensing A Presence: This is the most common form of contact. But many people discount these experiences, thinking, "Oh, I'm just imagining this." It's a distinct feeling that your loved one is nearby, even though he or she can't be seen or heard. Though most often felt during the days and weeks immediately after the death, you may sense his or her presence months and even years later.

Hearing A Voice: Some people state they hear an external voice, the same as when a living person is speaking to them. However, the majority of communications are by telepathy – you hear the voice of your relative or friend in your mind. When you have two-way communication, it is usually by telepathy. In fact, it's possible to have an entire conversation this way.

Feeling A Touch: You may feel your loved one touch you with his or her hand, or place an arm around your shoulders or back, for comfort and reassurance. You may feel a tap, a pat, a caress, a stroke, a kiss, or even a hug. These are all forms of affection, nurturing, and love.

Smelling A Fragrance: You may smell your relative's or friend's favorite cologne, after-shave lotion, or perfume. Other common aromas are: flowers (especially roses), bath powders, tobacco products, favorite foods, and his or her personal scent.

Visual Experiences: There are a wide variety of visual experiences, which we have divided into two broad categories: partial visual and full visual ADCs. Appearances range from "a transparent mist" to "absolutely solid" with many gradations in between. You may see only the head and shoulders of your relative or friend, or someone you love may make a full appearance to you, and you will see the entire body as well, which will appear completely solid. Some visual ADCs occur in the bedroom, next to or at the foot of the bed. Others may happen anywhere – indoors or outdoors – even in a car or aboard a plane. Typically he or she will be expressing love and well-being with a radiant smile. Loved ones virtually always appear healed and whole regardless of their cause of death. Verbal communication may take place, but not always.

Visions: You may see an image of a deceased loved one in a "picture" that is either two-dimensional and flat or three-dimensional like a hologram. It's like seeing a 35 mm slide or a movie suspended in the air. Visions are usually in radiant colors and may be seen externally with your eyes open or internally in your mind. Communication may occur, especially during meditation.

Twilight Experiences: These occur in the alpha state – as you're falling asleep, waking up, meditating, or praying. You may have any or all of the above types of experiences while you are in this state of consciousness.

ADC Experiences While Asleep: Sleep-state ADCs are much more vivid, intense, colorful, and real than dreams. They are very common. Both one-way and two-way communications are typical. You usually feel your loved one is with you in person – that you're having an actual visit together. These experiences are not jumbled, filled with symbols, or fragmented the way dreams are.

Sleep-state ADCs are similar to those that occur when you are wide awake. Your relative or friend can come to you more easily, however, when you are relaxed, open, and receptive, such as while you are in the alpha state or asleep.

Out-Of-Body ADCs: These may occur while you are asleep or in a meditative state. They are dramatic experiences during which you leave your body and often visit your loved one at the place or level where he or she exists. These are extremely vivid, intense, and real – some say, "more real than physical life." The environments usually contain beautiful flowers and butterflies, colorful bushes and trees, radiant lighting, and other lovely aspects of nature – and are filled with happiness, love, and joy.

Telephone Calls:
These ADCs may occur during sleep or when you are wide awake. You will hear a phone ringing, and if you answer it, your loved one will give you a short message. Two-way conversations are possible. His or her voice will usually be clear but may seem far away. If you are awake, you will probably not hear a disconnect sound or a dial tone when the call is completed.

Physical Phenomena: People who are bereaved often report receiving a wide variety of physical signs from their deceased relative or friend, such as: lights or lamps blinking on and off; lights, radios, televisions, stereos, and mechanical objects being turned on; photographs, pictures, and various other items being turned over or moved; and a long list of "things that go bump in the night."

Symbolic ADCs: People frequently ask a Higher Power, the universe, or their deceased loved one for a sign that he or she still exists. Many receive such a sign, though it may take some time to arrive. Occasionally these signs are so subtle they may be missed, or they may be discounted as mere "coincidences." Common signs include: butterflies, rainbows, many species of birds and animals, flowers, and a variety of inanimate objects such as coins and pictures.

According to our research, the purpose of these visits and signs by those who have died is to offer comfort, reassurance, and hope to their parents, spouse, siblings, children, grandchildren, other family members, and friends. They want you to know they're still alive and that you'll be reunited with them when it's your time to leave this physical life on earth – and they'll be there to greet you when you make your transition. Their most frequent messages, expressed verbally or non-verbally, include:

"I'm okay ... I'm fine ... Everything is okay ... Don't worry about me ...

Don't grieve for me ... Please let me go ... I'm happy ... Everything will be all right ...

Go on with your life ... Please forgive ... Thank you ... I'll always be there for you ...

I'm watching over you ... I'll see you again ... I love you ... Good-bye ..."

You may be asked to give a message from your loved one to somebody else. We urge you to write down the message verbatim and to deliver it, if possible, because it may help the recipient far more than you realize.

Nearly all ADCs are positive, joyful, and uplifting encounters that reduce grief, provide lasting comfort and hope, and accelerate emotional and spiritual healing. We encourage you to trust your own experiences and to accept them as being real for you.

Unfortunately, some people react with fear when they have an ADC. This is usually because they are startled by the suddenness of the event, or they may have never heard of one happening to anybody else. Such people may assume they are "losing their mind and going crazy." And others find it difficult to reconcile after-death communications with their philosophical or religious beliefs.

Not all people are contacted by their deceased loved ones. We don't know for certain why some are and some aren't, but it seems that fear, anger, and prolonged heavy grief inhibit the possibility of having an ADC.

Based upon our research, we suggest the following: Ask for a sign that your relative or friend continues to exist. Pray for him or her and others who are affected by the death, including yourself. We recommend that you learn how to meditate, especially if you are currently bereaved or have unresolved grief. Meditation will enable you to relax and soften any fear or anger you may have. It will reduce your depression, improve your ability to eat and sleep, and facilitate your healing process. These deep relaxation exercises will also allow you to unfold your inner, intuitive senses. In fact, you may have an ADC experience while you are meditating.

Our research indicates that after-death communications are a natural and normal part of life. Therefore, we feel ADCs deserve the same public awareness and acceptance that near-death experiences (NDEs) have already received.

For most people, an after-death communication from a deceased family member or friend is valued as a sacred and profound experience that will be cherished for a lifetime. ADC experiences usually expand one's understanding of life and offer a deeper awareness of life after death. They consistently communicate an essential spiritual message: "Life and love are eternal."

Copyright © 1995 - 2009 The ADC Project. All rights reserved.

Webmaster: Will Guggenheim

Views: 56268

Tags: ADC, after, communication, death

Comment

You need to be a member of Online Grief Support - A Social Community to add comments!

Join Online Grief Support - A Social Community

Comment by Dolly on November 4, 2016 at 7:18pm

My mom was a happy loving person.. we will always miss her terribly.. and I don't share the experiences I've had since she died with hardly anyone outside of here because I can't stand it when they don't believe it and make light of it or say its just my mind playing tricks because I feel that is like spitting in the Face of God Who can do anything He wants and Who loves us and our loved ones who have gone to be with Him more than we can understand and I will never put down something God does or allows that brings me comfort about mom... or my son who passed away in 2013.. or any of the others I have lost and have had different 'assurances' from heaven that they are somehow still with me on some level.. so I keep the stories mostly in here where others have had some similar experiences and where others have tender broken hearts like mine and are not so quick to say I'm crazy or delusional.. this is a good place mostly... sometime someone comes in to try to hurt others or cause trouble but they get shut down really quickly by either the other members or the administrators so it is a really safe place...

Comment by Susan Smith on November 3, 2016 at 10:13am
Aww, Dolly your Mum looks very pretty and happy there, a lovely picture. Thank you I believe in messages from them but I have only told my Husband and Daughter about these my Husband was in front of me walking when the feather blew at me no other feathers were there, maybe it was my Dad thanking me who knows to mention it to people they would think I was mad. It does help us though to cope with the grief, I think they were sent as I've been having a sad time accepting my life has changed since Mam went. Hope you are ok.
Comment by Dolly on November 3, 2016 at 8:46am

SUSAN.. when my mom died I was with her as well.. I had my hand on her ankle and my sister was by her head.. mom was so ill and could hardly breathe.. she had struggled HARD for so long... suddenly out of my mouth came the words "Lord You are supposed to be the God of Mercy.. where is the mercy in THIS?" And RIGHT AT THAT VERY SECOND as the word 'this' was coming to an end.. right on the final 's' sound I literally FELT a RUSH of what felt like tingling energy come out of my mom and through my hand on her ankle and at that VERY SAME INSTANT .. ALL of her monitors simultaneously CRASHED and I knew her spirit had FLOWN from her body and gone to be with God.. nobody much believes me but it DID happen and although I still grieved her death I knew that all the pain and suffering was now only MINE to bear... me and my sisters and my dad... and that MOM was now gloriously WHOLE and without pain FOREVER... and that one day we would all join her.. God willing.. so have HOPE and hold on to those little kisses from heaven.. they are REAL and they are God's way of allowing you to know that your mom lives with Him and still cares about you and is STILL WITH you in some way that none of us can really understand... I send you hugs from my broken heart to yours... we will hold on to each other here on earth until we too are Home at last...

Comment by Susan Smith on November 3, 2016 at 8:30am
My Mam died in February this year and I am still grieving very bad. I won't ever be the same again to be with my Mam when she breathed her last breath was very hard but something I had to do but it is making me very ill still seeing her like it and not having her anymore, I can't believe I have no Mam anymore, but when I went to the cemetery two weeks ago a white feather was on her grave and a butterfly kept flitting past me walking back down the path when I'd visited her grave, I also felt her presence, a white feather literally blew in my face the week before the butterfly so much that I caught it and kept it, I believe she is saying thank you for everything I did and that she's telling me to not worry, I think people would call it coincidence but it makes me feel better to believe the deceased send things for reassurance.
Comment by dream moon JO B on October 29, 2016 at 1:04am

me 2 espl xmas coz dads bday 26th dec

Comment by emma on October 28, 2016 at 7:37pm
My dad was my hero too, I find it harder around x mas time
Comment by dream moon JO B on October 28, 2016 at 3:44pm

dnt wot hapnd hear wen i dream abot my dad mary i feal grt i do lk his still hear i no it sond lk a kid wud say but my dad wz my hero u cud say

Comment by dream moon JO B on October 28, 2016 at 3:42pm

wen i dream abot my dad mary i feal grt lk his still het hra hear juts wish he wz

Comment by Mary Smith on October 28, 2016 at 6:42am

Comment by Mary Smith on October 28, 2016 at 6:38am

My mom passed away of breast cancer last year. I loved my mom so much. Within the first month following her death, she visited me in a dream. She was not sick, she had a white gown on and we were in a room with moonlight shining down. It felt real. I was laying in the bed with her and she was hugging me. I could actually feel her warm touch and her hug. She was talking to me - but I could not hear her. She looked like she looked when she was in her 20's. It was so comforting. I did not want to leave.

A week or so later after I had the dream. I was laying in bed and was about to go to sleep. I put the covers over my head and laid there for a while praying to God. I finished praying and I could smell the odor of a cake baking - my mom was a cook and she cooked from scratch. It was early morning and no one was cooking anything. I laid there for a few seconds just smelling the sweet smell of a cake baking in the oven under my covers. It smelled so real, until I pulled the covers from over my head to see whether the smell was coming from out of the house, but it was not..It was coming from under my blanket. This smell happened to me twice. When it happened the second time, I told my mom - please be at peace - I am okay...Of course I was not...

So after that maybe a week or more later and I was on the computer late at night and I was startled when three books fell off the bookcase on the floor right behind me. There was no way that these books could fall on their own...

I have moved to another state since my mom passed. I of course still miss her. Approximately four months ago, I was laying in bed watching TV and I felt a presence in the room and someone came and sat next to me in my bed. I could feel them actually sitting there. The presence sat where it could actually see my face....

A couple of weeks ago, I was cleaning out a closet in the basement. I have my mom's things in another room on the left side of this closet and I heard her call my brother's name. It sounded pretty far away. My brother saw her once while he was standing at the bus stop about a week after her passing and she appeared to him in like a bright glow in the sunlight and then disappeared. I told my brother that I heard my mom calling his name and a day or so later he heard her as well. I told him he was her baby and she was probably just checking in to make sure he was okay. I told my mom he is okay and I am looking after him just as I told her I would and to continue to be at peace.

Latest Activity

Speed Weasel posted a blog post

Assumptions

An assumption is an unexamined belief: what is thought to be true without ever really realizing that we think in that way. For better or worse, understanding starts with entertaining the idea that something is true.  Truly profound thoughts generally come to light from the relaxation of these (flawed) assumptions.  This is where I find myself today...Perhaps, one of the more significant drivers to pushing down the loss and grief at the time of the accident, ignoring it and mindlessly walking…See More
Mar 13
Profile IconCari Jo Converse, Jennifer and James D. Thornsberry joined Online Grief Support - A Social Community
Mar 13
Profile IconMarina Dsouza, Leah, Sandra M Aaron and 5 more joined Online Grief Support - A Social Community
Mar 5
esther joined HollowHeart's group
Thumbnail

Sibling Loss

This group is for anyone that has lost a brother or sister. Sibling loss is often minimized and people don't realize how devastating losing a sibling can be. I lost my older sister and my life will never be the same. She was my only sibling, I looked up to her, I went to her for everything. I lost my past, present and future. It is traumatic.See More
Mar 4
Speed Weasel posted a video

Sun Keeps Risin'

Provided to YouTube by The Orchard EnterprisesSun Keeps Risin' · Lissie · Elisabeth Corrin Maurus · Martin CraftMy Wild West℗ 2015 Lionboy RecordsReleased on...
Feb 26
Speed Weasel posted a blog post

Triggers Continue to Surface

Late February is a challenging time of year for me.  Jen’s birthday is the 23rd and serves as an annual reminder of all of the potential that was lost…Her’s (mainly), mine, the world’s honestly.  This year she would be 52…It is increasingly hard to imagine, through all of the iterations possible, what she could have become, what was to be her (significant) impact on the world.That being said, things, emotions, have largely settled down since I committed a potential version of what could have…See More
Feb 15
Michelle joined Gyla Lynn Darden's group
Thumbnail

Loss of a child In memory of my son or daughter

This group focuses on healing ourselves and each other over the death of a child and welcomes a Christian atmosphere to help with the healing process. I welcome all of those grieving.See More
Feb 8
Tammy McLaughlin and Rosie are now friends
Jan 30

© 2024   Created by Ninja.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service