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What 3 Near-Death Experiences Taught Me About Heaven, by Robert Kopecky

(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

Is it possible to venture into "the great beyond" without having to pay "the ultimate price" to get there? As a survivor of multiple Near-Death Experiences (NDEs), there is one big piece of advice I can give you about it: Try to avoid having multiple near-death experiences! The lessons you get from them about the afterlife are truly amazing, but the circumstances you go through to get there are definitely best avoided.

There are easier ways—take my word for it—that can lead you to discover that the place "beyond" you’re so curious about; it isn't so far away after all, especially if you look within—as with this example.

What do you see when you close your eyes? Try it right now for ten or twenty seconds: Close your eyes and really look into the darkness inside your eyelids and notice…it's not really complete darkness in there, is it? There's a kind of life unfolding inside of your eyelids—undulating waves of slightly effervescent energy—vibrations and pulsations, arising and receding. I know it all can be explained in a neurological way, but still, there is a lot going on in there—a lot of very mysterious stuff. Just stay there for a minute and take it in. Then, when you open your eyes and look around, see how the light energy floods in from everywhere, bouncing off of everything. There's that vivid, radiating life-energy penetrating every iota, every instant of our being—just as there always has been, and just as there always will be! That experience never changes. We have always—and will always—live in this miraculous, illuminative now. Those inward vibrations are the introductory inklings of the great beyond alive within us all. Those curious vibrating fields of energetic effervescence are a lot like the atmosphere alive in "Heaven"…and that is something I can tell you a little about.

In my new book, How to Get to Heaven (Without Really Dying): Wisdom From a Near Death Survivor, I take the opportunity to explore each of my NDEs, and to pass along to you all of the attitudes, atmospheres, sensations, and possibilities that define my experiences of the "heavenly" realm I visited, as well as the "normal" life experiences I've had of it ever since. You see, as a result of my accidental excursions into a couple completely different afterworlds, I've come back with this one big message: Heaven isn't a single, predictable place that you'll go to someday. Instead, it's a kind of custom-made, eternal state-of-being that can be reached and experienced everyday, through all of Life. You can get there from here, and in easier, more empowering ways than by having to experience any kind of physical death (so let's just hold off on that, for now). I'd be remiss without a respectful nod to the skeptics, because it goes without saying that I didn't actually die—or I wouldn't be here to talk about it. Obviously, no NDE survivor has actually died and stayed that way—a simple truth that justifies all the skepticism and conjecture surrounding the subject. But it's also pretty fascinating how NDEs are a growing worldwide phenomenon that transcend ages, races, and cultures, and describe an apparent continuation of our consciousness beyond (and I'd suggest within) this world to which we open our eyes every morning.

Despite any similarities about which you've heard, NDEs come in many different forms and motifs, and describe a kind of "custom-made afterlife," a kind of Heaven—or Hell—that all survivors report on. As you might expect, the bottom line for me (and almost all NDE survivors) is that I know life doesn't end here. It continues in an extra-dimensional fashion, but exactly how I'm not sure. Having had the three of them myself, I don't believe that NDEs are a visit to any definitive "next world" that many may wish for. I believe these experiences aren't so much a reliable description of what will come next after this life, but simply more evidence about how richly complex a thing that all of Life really is.

Even though each of my experiences was very different from the others, they all described my life; and though their main features were different, there was always that energetic, effervescent life alive in this miraculous now that didn't change from trip to trip to trip—in fact, that's what may have been the most important part of them all: The powerful sense of a total loving connection to everything. It's the common prerequisite for any "Heaven" we'll ever find.

Having the three trips under my belt, and having learned about many, many more in my travels, one unavoidable characteristic that all these experiences share in common is how perfectly their specifics fit each survivor's life. They almost always involve other critical spirits, places, and events that speak directly to each of us. We know how many NDE events adhere to a set of common motifs—as in my three experiences, I had an "out-of-body" perspective on my own death, a reassessment or "life review," and a forced "return back" into this life (against my will). Along with other scenarios commonly spoken of, such as "the light at the end of the tunnel," visiting an "Elysian" field and meeting up with your dearly departed, experiencing a view of the Earth from deep outer space, and others. Yet, even these similar passages are uniquely suited to us (in fact, they're even specific to the religion and culture of the experiencer).

My NDEs seemed to be just what I needed at the time of each of my "deaths." They were as simple or as elaborate as they needed to be to move me closer into alignment with a greater reality—into a place in my life where I could experience those attitudes, atmospheres, and potential, that state-of-being that I associate with Heaven. That was the powerfully unavoidable sensation that each experience had in common: the enveloping aspect of this miraculous now that each event gave me. In each experience, I was enfolded within a penetrating field of intelligence—an experience of the continuing connection and expansion into what I call the field of "Divine Consciousness."

I lost track of everything material—I don't even remember having a body, or knowing exactly where I was, but the truth that I've brought back with more empowering urgency than any other detail of "the afterlife" is that I never stopped experiencing an all-encompassing Consciousness (which you’ll notice I now capitalize, indicating it as a force of Divinity). Like many NDE survivors, I realized a complete merging into a greater field of intuitive, omniscient intelligence, accompanied by an indescribable non-physical sensation of loving wholeness and belonging-to. It's this continuation into a greater, unified "mind," and expansion into a magical, spiritual dimension—full of every possibility that you can possibly imagine—that now informs my understanding of every life I'll ever live.

It's an experience that I've discovered can (nearly…) be experienced in this crazy human form, and that can be fostered in my everyday-to-day life in this crazy human world. It's an experience of Life that in a variety of very interesting ways, I'd like to share with you.

God bless those overly scientific, "materialist" skeptics, many of whom base their doubts in current explorations of neuroscience. I believe that they're absolutely right in their assertion that NDEs are abstract perceptual phenomenon resulting from the brain not being completely dead. After all, this is a pretty abstract Universe (floating around out here in outer space is already miraculous enough, isn't it?). Like me, I don't think any NDE survivor would ever insist that their brain had completely died—we'd simply acknowledge that we went on "thinking" and "seeing" in what we remember as the afterlife. I think it's simply because (despite even the physiological "death" of our human brains) our mind does not die; instead, it's incorporated into a greater mind. We're folded into an expansive, organizing, Consciousness-based intelligence—a kind of loving matrix of limitless potential experience.

And here's the really good news: That very same experience is definitely available here and now—it's just more of a challenge because we're in these doggone bodies all the time. We don't have to escape them per se, but we do have to elude their materialistic tendencies, so there are what I call "rungs on the ladder to Heaven" that we can make use of—principles to live by that allow us to actually witness Heaven-on-Earth. There's meditation and mindfulness, and teachings from amazing ancient texts that are direct doorways to the kind of Paradise that we may only imagine as being "extra-dimensional." And there are perceptions and practices that can actually help us to restore whatever parts of that Garden we may feel we've lost, or even to create an entirely new one!

But it is true, in couple ways, that you'll have to let go of this world, to let go of "who you're supposed to be," if you want to explore those extra-dimensions. If you want to find out exactly how you can get to Heaven…without really dying, that is.

Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2018. All rights reserved.

I haven't had a decent night's sleep since my mom died six years ago. (My dad died 14 years ago.) Every night I hear tapping in my room. I also experience a lot of sleep paralysis. I've heard strange things like a huge boulder coming my way and strange grunts from something or someone. I've had a couple of out of body experiences. It all petrifies me; I'm so very tired. I can't talk to anyone about this as I've learned from experience that people will think I've gone mad. I sleep with the TV on as I can't bear silence or total darkness. After falling asleep, the TV volume has turned up very loud, apparently on its own. Sometimes, objects will just fall off the chair for no reason. I've also seen what looks like a laser go through the curtain of my room. My sister has advised me to speak to the tapping and ask if it wants something, but I'm too afraid to do this. Could it be my parents trying to contact me? How can I get past this so I can get a decent night's sleep? Thanks for your time.

Rani

Susyn:

The events you describe are definitely paranormal, but it will take some action on your part to determine their source. Though you mention that they began after your mother died, it's possible that you have a different type of entity living in your bedroom.

I recommend you do a spiritual cleansing of your bedroom and the rest of your house. In the event that you're dealing with a haunting or discarnate spirit, the noises you hear should cease after this cleansing.

Here are some rituals for clearing a house of unwanted spirits:

Smudging Ritual: Light the end of a sage smudge stick or a stick of sage incense and once it starts to smolder, ask out loud that all negative spirits leave the premises at once. Walk through each room of your house, wafting the smoke around windows, doorways, furniture and electronics. Be sure to smudge near electrical outlets and light fixtures as well, for these are places where spirits love to hide.

Grounding Ritual: Salt is known for its protective qualities as well as its ability to absorb negative energy and chase spirits away. For this ritual, fill a small bowl or plate with salt and then place a clear quartz crystal upright in the center to draw and ground the spirits. You can create one of these to put by your bed as well as one for any other rooms where you have experienced problems.

Stone Ritual: Certain stones are known for their protective qualities. Turquoise, lapis lazuli and malachite are exceptionally strong, so place one or more of these stones near your bed or under your pillow. You can also wear stones in a necklace, ring or bracelet for around-the-clock protection.

Typically, when our loved ones are attempting to contact us from the other side, their efforts won't appear frightening or disturbing. Though they will often come during the night, you should be able to identify them by their image, voice or emotional presence. With the exception of the tapping, none of these events suggests that your parents are trying to communicate with you. Just in case the sounds are coming from the spirits of your parents, you might ask them to reveal themselves in less disruptive and more recognizable ways.

The tapping could indicate a spirit that is trapped and hasn't moved on in the afterlife. If you're awakened by the tapping again, you should address it by praying and encouraging them to seek the light and move to the other side. Reminding any earthbound entities that it's time to move out of limbo and on to their next phase of existence should help.

*****

Mata Maya:

Given your reference to having out of body experiences, my feeling is that you are experiencing bleed through from another dimension. There are places throughout the Earth where the boundaries between this world and other dimensions of experience are very thin. There are even openings called portals through which we can travel into other worlds and beings in other worlds can travel into or close to this dimension.

When you have an out of body experience, you shift from a state of consciousness that is identified with the physical dimension, into a state of consciousness that is in harmony with another realm of experience. When you are in other dimensions like the astral, you encounter beings, lights, objects, sounds and other things that are not perceptible to those in an ordinary state of waking consciousness.

When you are falling asleep at night or waking up in the morning, you pass through this special state of consciousness associated with out of body experiences. You don't have to be technically out of your body to be in this state of mind; in fact, you may not even realize you're in this state of consciousness. All you know is that you are seeing, hearing, and otherwise perceiving some very strange things!

Further, the more we consciously project into other worlds, the thinner the boundaries between those worlds and this one become. Someone who regularly astral projects will therefore tend to create a portal in their bedroom or wherever they practice getting out of body. Their own vibration will also shift in such a way that they become something of a walking portal.

This portal flows both ways. On the other side of it, perhaps there are beings who are experiencing some very strange ghostly activity of their own when someone from this dimension pops through in a strange or ethereal way.

It's common for people who meditate a great deal, attempt astral projection, or spontaneously project to start having all sorts of other paranormal experiences. For example, they may be doing something ordinary like washing the dishes when they see an otherworldly entity or figure out of the corner of their eye, or perceive another being who isn't physically there seemingly doing ordinary things.

Most of the time, what they are experiencing is bleed through awareness of other dimensions. Often they are the only ones aware of the things they are perceiving. This is because those things aren't here in the physical; instead, it is their awareness that is expanded to include metaphysical dimensions.

Astrea:

Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.

Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!

While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!

I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!

As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.

I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.

You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!

Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.

A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.

You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.