Sleep paralysis, the vibrational state, and OBEs are completely natural events. Over fifty years of out-of-body exploration confirm to me that there is nothing to fear. Our personal apprehensions remain the greatest block we confront in all aspects of our life’s endeavors including the exploration of consciousness. Hold onto the knowledge that you are safe and loved.

I personally love the vibrations and enjoy the energies that are present when I am beginning my explorations of consciousness. This mindset or attitude of calm and pure enjoyment of the vibrational energies also helps in the OBE process.

Embrace the love of adventure and fear will dissolve!

What is the Vibrational State?

Internal vibrations and sounds are often the early indications of an approaching out-of-body experience or other journey of consciousness. I refer to the inner sounds and vibrations as the vibrational state. These vibrations are commonly reported to begin at the head, neck, and stomach area and spread throughout the entire body. They are often accompanied by numbness, temporary paralysis, and noises such as a buzzing, humming, or roaring sound.

The ideal response is to notice any internal inner signals you may experience during sleep, dreams, and as you are waking. Direct close attention to any unusual vibratory feelings or sounds—even if they are subtle. Many people routinely experience vibration sensations and sounds, but disregard them as dream-related or as unexplained physical phenomena.

Can you provide some examples that are the positive indications of an impending OBE?

Here are the most reported precursors to an OBE:

• Any sensation of heaviness or lightness

• Any form of vibrations

• Seeing through closed eyes

• Any sense of motion

• Temporary paralysis (full or partial)

• Energy surges

• Any sensation of sinking or falling

• Hearing voices or conversations

• The sensation of being touched or pulled

• Any strange sounds

• Your name being spoken

• The sensation of someone or something next to you

• Moving or flying in a dream

• Perceiving that your immediate surroundings have changed

• Feeling any part of your body lifting or floating

• Feeling pressure on any part of your body

• The feeling of an unseen presence in your immediate area

Consider all energy changes as nonphysical events. Although everyone will experience some differences in their practice, here is one account from a reader:

“I was on the edge of sleep, very relaxed and very awake. Then it hit me – I was enveloped by the vibration that precedes full paralysis. I paid very close attention to what it felt like. This is something that distinctly emanated from within my body, especially from my head and neck area. It felt more vibratory than tingly. The vibration starts at an even, constant level and then seems to distinctly flow from one part of the body to another. It feels euphoric in nature. While this was happening, I could hear everything that was happening around me.”

How do I effectively respond to these energy sensations?

As much as possible, relax and surrender to any sensations and sounds. Allow them to expand throughout your body and mind—just let the energies to flow unrestricted. Become a completely passive observer.

Your recognition and response to the sensations and sounds will often determine how successful your separation process becomes. During your practice I have found it effective to always assume that any sounds and sensations out of norm are vibrational events. It is common for people to become so startled by unusual occurrences that they immediately focus their attention upon their physical body; this causes an instant return to the physical.

The first few moments of our explorations are often critical in the way we perceive and react to our experiences. A knowledgeable, positive, and prepared reaction to our inner explorations, the vibrational state, and sleep paralysis are essential to initiate and experience a productive exploration. Our reaction to these energetic events will shape the perceptions of our entire experience. These energetic inner events are often our best friend, for they are clear announcements that we are ready to explore.

I have never experienced the Vibrational State prior to an experience. Am I doing something wrong?

Absolutely not! Vibrational state phenomena are not required to have any expansion-of-consciousness experience. Based on my research, about 30% of people do not experience vibrations at all. If you find yourself beginning to experience a separation of consciousness, just go with it. Continue with the elements of your practice and enjoy the ride!

Is sleep paralysis harmful or dangerous?

No. Sleep paralysis is a natural mechanism that happens to every human during night sleep. When you are dreaming your brain has a kind of switch that turns off physical body movement functions to protect us from acting out our dreams in the physical world. Sleep paralysis is a natural event.

Can you provide your thoughts about how to respond to sleep paralysis? Sometimes when I wake up, it is difficult or impossible to move my arms and legs.

A positive and prepared mindset is essential to the results we experience. I must emphasize that sleep paralysis and the vibrational state are completely natural events. Embrace the reality that you are safe and powerful during these explorations.

Here are a few simple ideas that work.

• Remain calm and surrender during sleep paralysis. Embrace the energy flow as this can be your personal launch pad for exploration. Any unusual sounds or images may manifest; but they are only a diversion created by the mind. Remain focused on your positive intent to explore beyond your physical limits.

• Focus and direct your complete attention to a location away from your body; e.g., “Door now!” Make this a silent affirmation for immediate results. My backup move is to mentally roll out of my body and direct myself away from my body. (It is like rolling in a sleeping bag.)

• NEVER think about or focus on your physical body during the vibrational state or sleep paralysis. During the experience I have found it helpful to pretend my physical body does not exist and remain unattached to my body. When we focus on our body, we lock ourselves within it! Expect positive results.

How should I embrace the vibrational state to have a meaningful nonphysical experience?

First you must remain calm and surrender to the energy. Any sense of panic or thoughts of the physical will bring you directly back into your body. These energy sensations are normal and indicate that a trance state is imminent. Allow these vibrations to spread and envelop your entire being. Accept these as natural and positive signs of a true spiritual experience.

As these continue you will have a sense of separation from your body. This could manifest as floating, sinking, or spinning. This is the time to visualize your awareness moving away from your physical body. Some helpful affirmations are “Now I float upward,” “Now I move to the door,” “Now I am out-of-body.” By focusing away from your body, separation will occur and vibrations will diminish.

Demand to experience your Higher Self with commands such as “Now I experience my spiritual essence.” Be open to the experience and relax into the sense of rapid inner movement or upward motion that may follow. Enjoy your amazing journey of consciousness.

I start out having vibrations, but then I freak out and it scares me back to my physical body. What should I do about that?

Remain completely calm and detached during all manifestations of the vibration state or sleep paralysis. One strategy is this: surrender to the energy flow and enjoy the process as you imagine you are surrounded by positive waves of love. When we react calmly and effectively to these energy events, the gate to our exciting adventure will open. Recognize the unusual feelings or images that may manifest as a positive signal. Remain focused on your intention to explore beyond your physical limits.

One of my readers uses the transitional phrase, “Whee! Here I go!” This sends a message to the subconscious that you anticipate a fun experience. Try using a separation phrase that means something positive to you.

The vibrations create a situation for me where I think about my body. Specifically, I mean the sounds and buzzing. How can I avoid it?

If your goal is inner exploration, never think about or focus on your physical body during the vibrational state or sleep paralysis, but sometimes it can be difficult. When we focus on our physical body, we lock ourselves within it! I suggest that you use the buzzing as a signal to focus on your journey. Embrace the sounds as confirmation of the adventure that is about to begin.

During all altered states, completely own your creative power and expect positive results. Silently repeat, “Awareness now!” to enrich your perception and mobility capabilities.

How can I move from the vibrational state to an out-of-body experience?

During the vibrational state, imagine you are floating with the energies; for example, picture that you are enjoying an amusement park water ride or floating in a hot-air balloon. Then focus and maintain your full attention away from your body with a silent command, Door Now! or Roll Now! Always focus away from your body and never think about your body or any physical sensations. Just allow the wild energy ride to continue and enjoy the entire process. Be aware that after full separation, the vibrations will cease during the experience. Have patience; remaining calm and detached is a skill that develops with practice.

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A positive reaction to your personal vibrational signals will assist you to take advantage of every opportunity to explore beyond your physical body and experience the ultimate adventure. The more knowledgeable and prepared you are about the scope of indicators, the more success you are likely to achieve.

We have a choice; we can accept ancient fear-based beliefs and limit ourselves—or empower ourselves and become effective explorers. Choose well.

 An affirmation is a strong, positive statement declared in present tense. The root word “affirm” means to "make firm;" it is a method of solidifying a thought or idea within ourselves. Affirmations have proven to be extremely effective when used properly. They should always be formed as a confident proclamation; for example, "Now I am strong.” “Now I am healthy.” “I am loved now." or "I am grateful for the abundance in my life now!”

Your state of consciousness will always determine your perceived reality. As you increase your vibrational frequency through command affirmations such as, Clarity Now! Awareness Now!, or Next Level Now!, you will energetically begin to move your awareness within your multidimensional self. As we raise our internal vibration, we are essentially moving our conscious awareness inward. As this occurs your current “solid” reality will often appear to quickly melt or morph before you.

What are the benefits of using an affirmation?

Our minds are flowing with a constant stream of thoughts continuously influencing our physical and nonphysical realities. Our intellectual, emotional and, finally, our physical state of consciousness is the direct result of our thoughts.

Affirmations allow us to focus our thoughts and counteract some of the negative ideas we have accepted. The practice of doing affirmations enables us to begin the process of replacing negative or limiting thoughts with fresh, positive ones. It is a powerful method to reprogram ourselves for positive change and personal success.

What is the best approach to using affirmations?

Affirmations can be repeated silently, spoken aloud, confirmed in writing, or even expressed in the form of a song or rhyme. In out-of-body exploration they are generally repeated silently, with increasing emphasis on the last few moments before the onset of sleep. The goal is to be completely focused on your desire for an immediate out-of-body experience as you drift to sleep.

When is the best time to use affirmations for out-of-body exploration?

Affirmations can be useful in several different areas and can be changed, updated, or clarified to be consistent with your specific need at the time. Here are some times when using affirmations can be helpful.

• Use affirmations to improve your clarity of perception. (Clarity Now!) if you have difficulty directing your experience.

• To instruct your consciousness about your objective, use affirmations to declare your immediate intentions to experience an out-of-body journey (Now I travel out-of-body!).

• When fear or doubt is slowing your progress, affirmations can reduce or even eliminate those conditions that make you fearful. Using positive demands can assist the removal of negative or limiting self-concepts and beliefs related to out-of-body exploration (I am strong! I am safe! I am immortal!).

• Enhancing the dream conversion process can be a reason to affirm your objective. (See more about this in the chapter “Dreams as an Entryway to The Exploration of Consciousness.”)

• Affirmations act as a reinforcement to any explorations of consciousness, improving your ability to move away from your physical body during the initial seconds of a separation (“I move to the other room” or “I float up and away”).

• Thought control can be strengthened before and during an altered-state experience using focused commands (Awareness Now! Next Level Now! Higher Self Now!).

• Providing an effective method to reprogram your subconscious mind for success can be achieved through affirmations. Memory recall can be heightened as you repeat “I remember all!” during any experience

The use of affirmations can be combined with other techniques to augment the overall effectiveness. They can also be helpful in focusing and maintaining your conscious attention upon your goal of an out-of-body experience or any other exploration of consciousness as your body drifts off to sleep.

Note: Different affirmations can be used for different purposes.

WHAT ARE SOME DIFFERENT KINDS OF OBE OR ALTERED STATE AFFIRMATIONS AND THEIR PRIMARY USES?

Please experiment with what command works best for you (repetition is often required)

• Affirmations designed to move your focus away from your physical body and initiate separation from the physical.
  Roll Now!
  Door Now!
  Float Now!

• Affirmations to increase focus and control during an OBE or altered state.
  Awareness Now!
  Stability Now!
  Focus Now!
  Clarity Now!

• During an OBE to initiate a change or shift from one reality/ state of consciousness to a different vibrational reality.
  Next Level Now!
  Higher Self Now!
  Astral Now!
  My Past Life Now!
  Source Now!

• During an OBE you can also use a firm affirmation to potentially meet/communicate with a specific loved one.
  My mother/brother now! (Use their names)

Can I use an affirmation for someone else?

In general, affirmations are directed by you for you to make the most of your experience. When someone who has been close to you joins you while out-of-body it is possible that they can hear your affirmation (through thoughts) and take the command as a learning moment for themselves. This is an example of a daughter who may have provided assistance to her mother.

“I was sleeping in someone else’s room due to visiting family and woke up at about 4 AM. I did manage to return to sleep and found myself climbing outside stairs to a second-floor location in what I think was a motel. I went back inside to look for my house guests and instead saw my deceased mother. She looked beautiful in a long flowing night gown and robe set. She was still wearing her glasses which I thought was odd. By this time, I knew I was having an OBE and I thought - Why does she still need her glasses? So, I said “Clarity, clarity!” Her glasses became bigger and bigger – she faded away but her glasses remained. When I returned to lucidity, I asked myself - Did she need the message? Was “clarity” meant for her? I hoped from this experience that she could see more clearly now.”

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Affirmations can be used to verbalize and achieve your goals whether in your physical life or in pursuit of an altered state of consciousness. I have listed a number of examples in this chapter, but you have the power to create your own based on whatever you would like to accomplish.

 Every person having an OBE or NDE is taking their mindset; their personal fears, beliefs, and indoctrination with them into their experience. The great advantage of an OBE is the fact that it is repeatable so you can verify your observations and conclusions. This is a critical advantage in your practice.

Your thoughts are your primary method of mobility. Have patience. It takes practice to adapt to the focus of thought required to experience personal control in highly thought-responsive environments. Learn to focus your thoughts on a specific, single goal or destination and you can become proficient at navigating nonphysical realities.

If so much is to be learned in the nonphysical dimensions, why are we having a physical experience?

Within a physical body, we gain direct experience and knowledge of a dense dimension. In short, we are using form and matter as vehicles for evolution. The very act of entering the physical world is a multidimensional expansion of our consciousness. Maintaining a physical body is essential for the training of consciousness because we learn by becoming that which we wish to know.

Can I access my Akashic/subconscious history through OBEs?

Yes, during your OBE remain calm, move 10 feet (three meters) away from your body, then stabilize your state of consciousness though a silent affirmation such as "Stability Now!” or “Clarity Now!” Then make a focused and firm demand such as "Past life Now!" or use an intention that resonates with you. Be completely open to what occurs. A change/shift in vibration and perception will often occur. Remain calm and detached from the results. I write about this in my first book, Adventures Beyond the Body.

Are past lives accessible through explorations of consciousness?

Yes. We carry our many life experiences and traumas with us; they remain deep within our subconscious mind. Through hypnosis, dreams, and other altered states, we can begin to access our other lives in different energy realities.

Sometimes it occurs naturally as someone moves closer to a transition. This is one man’s journey told to my wife, Susan, as he approached his physical death.

“My friend visited me last night,” Richard told me. “I knew him from World War I. I thought he was dead, but he looked pretty good. He didn’t like it though, when I told him I thought he was dead.”

In this lifetime, Richard was not old enough to have been in World War One. I suspected this was a past life account, as he had spoken to me about having some nonphysical experiences as he slept. In a separate conversation, he told me that his leg had been blown off the previous day. He showed me just above his knee where the explosive made contact. (This was not a physical reality.)

“I was just walking up some stone steps with some other fellas. We were trying to get through a doorway. I don’t know where I was and then just like that, it came right through my leg and tore the whole thing off.” He gestured to his left leg. He was thankful that ‘they’ had put him back together for our visit that day.”

If your goal is to explore a past life, incorporate this into your affirmations and be ready to write down all that you experience.

Why don’t my commands work all the time?

As we grow in our spiritual journey, our affirmations should expand as well. I would experiment with a different phrase, as it could be the words are not resonating with you any longer. You can design your own to find one that works best for you. Try several.

It is also possible that your intention has changed and you need to change the affirmation to better match your goals.

Remember, all thought commands must be made with focused intention for immediate results and emphasis on NOW!

I no longer remember my nighttime experiences; what can I do to help my recall?

Be aware that for some. the use of melatonin and certain medications and drinks before bed can negatively impact your recall. Try an affirmation as you fall to sleep, like "Now I remember my dream experiences!" Experiment with different intentions. And as always, immediately when you are able. write down or record your thoughts and events—even if it is simply a word, a person, or a place. This can help you to remember what happened once you become fully awake.

What is the best way to improve my perception/vision during my astral projections/OBEs?

Demand, “Awareness Now!” “Clarity Now!” or Vision Now!” Repeat your firm intention when required during your entire experience. Make this a powerful focused demand for immediate results. Keep it simple and direct! For more tips, see “Keys to Control” located on my website: www.astralinfo.org

Are there different perception capabilities during journeys of consciousness?

Yes. During OBEs and other journeys, we are not seeing the physical world; we are perceiving the parallel (often called etheric) dimension that exists closest in density and vibration to the Earth. This is confusing to many because the parallel dimension is an almost duplicate of the physical world. Many assume they are “seeing” their physical surroundings; however, this can be misleading. Remember we do not possess physical eyes, ears, or any other biological senses when we exit our body. We “see” our nonphysical surroundings through visual perception created by our mind. This form of vision is different depending upon your state of consciousness and the nonphysical vehicle/body of conscious you are experiencing.

For example, astral body perception is different and superior to etheric vision. During an astral body experience, you are entering a higher vibrational dimension.

I always experience my physical-like environment during my OBEs. It is very limiting. How do I enter the astral dimension?

You are experiencing what is often called the parallel or etheric dimension. There are several different strategies to enter the astral; first, stabilize yourself energetically, move ten feet away from your body and silently demand, “Awareness Now.” Then firmly demand, “Astral Now!” or “Next Level Now!”

Expect results and repeat if needed. Remain calm as your current surrounding may appear to dissolve or change when you shift inward from your etheric body to your less dense astral body. Be aware this process is an inner-dimensional shift within yourself. This is not a lateral motion.

During your OBE, another effective approach is to focus on and move to your front door and then open it or move through it. For decades I would experience a green field or other radically different astral reality after moving through my front door. This external reality change is an indication of my inner vibrational shift to the less-dense astral dimension or another reality. After every inner-dimensional inner shift, it is ideal to stabilize your energy body again by repeating, “Awareness Now!” or “Stability Now!”

This is one of the skills I teach in my OBE online workshop. Visit www.astralinfo.org for more information.

I have a chronic illness. Do you have any suggestions that would support my healing process?

I recommend using daily healing meditations. What has worked for me is using the power of visualizing a warm, healing light filling my body. I add in a strong affirmation. “Now I am open and flowing with the healing power of the Universe! NOW I AM AN OPEN CHANNEL FOR THE HEALING POWER OF GOD/UNIVERSE/SOURCE!” I always stress to use the term that best matches your individuality.

In my routine, I invoke this energy before sleep, upon waking, and during the vibrational state! Included below is a more detailed technique should you wish to explore this further.

If I am taking drugs to address my physical illness; will this affect my nonphysical experience?

Your physical body will feel the effect of drugs but your etheric or astral body leaves the infirmity of your body behind. The same should be true of mental illness as it is part of your brain/body chemistry. For example: your physical body may struggle to maintain the simplest of movements, it may feel the effects of drugs, but during an OBE you will feel neither—you will be free to enjoy all movements and clarity.

What is Hemi-Sync Sound technology?

This definition is directly from the manufacturer:

“Hemi-Sync is a patented, scientifically and clinically proven audio-guidance technology refined with over 40 years of research. Researchers learned that specific sound patterns could lead the brain to various states of consciousness ranging from deep relaxation or sleep to expanded awareness and other extraordinary states.”

Practitioners have used this technology both with and without verbal guidance.

Should I use Hemi-Sync in my practice?

This is a personal choice based on your experience as an individual. Many people have success with this sound technology during their explorations. If you are unsure, try your techniques both with and without. Choose what works best for you.

What do you think about using Artificial Intelligence capabilities in my OBE practice?

Artificial Intelligence is relatively new (as of this writing) and shows promise for many applications. At this point, I am hesitant to recommend the use of AI for developing your spiritual agenda.

I have always been a proponent of finding the answers through your own personal experience rather than following a self-proclaimed leader, whether human or electronic. There is no substitute for following the path that your Higher Self provides.

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One way to see through the increasing flood of disinformation is to pursue conscious explorations beyond the physical body. During your OBEs, meditations, or lucid dreams ask or demand to perceive the bigger picture and purpose of your life beyond the daily narrative. This is not to escape from the physical dramas but an opportunity to potentially perceive the entire human movie unfold, not just a brief distorted daily scene or programmed click bait. Once you see beyond the physical façade, you can no longer be manipulated by the political and mass-media puppet masters that control the collective consciousness of this dense reality.

Yes, this approach requires effort, determination, study, and the courage to reject the old beliefs and conclusions that have led humanity into endless conflicts and bitter division. For me and many others, OBEs and the various other explorations of consciousness are a logical—even practical—approach in a crazy world.

Keep your thoughts and nonphysical actions focused. Many social media sites provide a variety of different and complicated instructions for entering the astral. Much of this information is based on metaphysical or religious belief systems that are not practical or accurate. The reality is this: during your OBEs, you have a limited window to be effective, so it is essential to master the basics of control or you will experience constant struggles and limits.

At death, a great majority of humanity enters a nonphysical energy dimension and reality existing just out of phase with the physical world. People are met by loved ones and are reunited in a very pleasant, physical-like environment. The many ills, pains, and harshness of the physical world can be a thing of the past. By our choice, there are no wars, starvation, or death in our new reality. On the surface, the new environment appears perfect and pristine when compared to our past physical existence.

Countless other realities and dimensions are available that are far more magnificent and thought-responsive. We know this from documented out-of-body and near-death experiences.

What is death?

Death is a natural transition of consciousness to our higher-vibrational energy body. At the moment of death, we experience the transfer of our consciousness from our dense outer vehicle (the physical body) to our more subtle (astral) energy body. We are immortal as soul, so death is the ultimate illusion.

Can you give more details about what happens at the moment of death?

This is when we experience the natural transfer of our consciousness from the physical body to our existing subtle astral body. Most people are immediately met by loved ones who are a part of their extended soul group. Generally, each person is reunited within a collective of souls that shares his or her mindset and stage of spiritual evolution. We will automatically experience the physical-like environment within the astral dimension that corresponds to our vibrational (spiritual) development. This is a description from a hospice nurse:

“I can tell when the time of death is near because the patient is slipping in and out of consciousness. Such people often describe detailed conversations with friends or relatives that have passed on.”

What about the Life Review Process?

This will be different for everyone. Some near-death experiencers will report that this review occurs as they are entering the light and others after they ‘arrive’ in their new environment. There are those who see their life review when they meet with a guide or voice that provides direction for them. My own personal experience occurred during my illness. During my altered states, I had many memories surface that had been buried in my subconscious. It was a benefit for me to be able to review some pleasant events during my childhood, as I recognized some balance to offset the difficult days.

How can I best prepare for my death?

First and foremost, expand your state of consciousness by releasing all negative energies such as anger, resentment, jealousy, and hatred. Second, as you approach the point of transition, focus on experiencing your spiritual essence by mentally repeating a powerful affirmation, "Higher Self Now!" or "Spiritual Essence Now!" Make this your focused personal mantra. All of this will contribute to raising your vibration, which will assist you in moving to a higher plane of consciousness.

Reincarnation

Is reincarnation real?

Yes. The education of soul through repeated experiences in the physical world is a common method for spiritual evolution. Reincarnation is essentially a training system for consciousness; this process has proven to be extremely challenging but also highly effective. Graduates of the physical training ground are highly regarded as spiritually evolved souls.

Are we required to reincarnate?

No, we are not required to reincarnate. However, many desire to return to the physical because of interpersonal attachments, the need to address an unresolved situation, the excitement of a new adventure, or a desire to relive the thrills of physical existence—sex, drugs, food, and all the many intense pleasures and dramas of the physical experience. It is important to consider that as immortal beings, seventy years on Earth must feel like the blink of the eye in eternity.

The primary reason I wrote Adventures in the Afterlife and Higher Self Now! was to shed light on the amazing multidimensional journey we call death. For decades I have stated that no one has a gun to our head forcing us to return to Earth. We are not the helpless victims of some great evil conspiracy. We disempower ourselves by accepting any form of victim mentality.

If it is not a requirement, why would anyone choose to reincarnate?

The author Robert Monroe states that reincarnating in the physical world is like repeating a wild trip on our favorite, exciting, amusement-park ride. If we want to break the repetitive cycle of reincarnation—or get off the ‘wheel,’ as the Buddhists describe it—it is essential to obtain self-knowledge and awaken to our multidimensional nature as soul. Ask yourself how we can evolve beyond the physical body when our complete self-identity remains focused on matter.

Reincarnation is a choice; it is not mandatory. No one forces us to reenter Earth. However, there are many conditions that are fueling reincarnation for all of mankind. Here are the main ones:

1. A false physical self-identity – being unaware of our multidimensional spiritual self and our evolution as soul results in our continuing focus on and attachment to the physical body and the physical world.

2. Attachments to matter – this can be attachment to people, relationships, homes, and life situations.

3. Addictions - the many physical and psychological addictions that plague mankind compel us to return to the physical world.

4. Absence of spiritual self-knowledge - we are taught from birth that the answers to our spiritual existence are unknowable and that we must rely on inaccurate manmade doctrines and beliefs concerning our afterlife journey.

5. Settling for too little – out of ignorance, most people accept the first nonphysical reality they experience immediately after death.

6. Emotional connections - our continuing attachment to loved ones who have died or reincarnated.

7. Lack of awareness – remaining unaware of our multidimensional spiritual nature and the afterlife environments we will experience.

An indoctrinated mindset will drive repetitive life experiences and behavioral choices. There is a grand spectrum of evolution and everyone awakens at a different pace.

Aren’t there any good reasons to reincarnate?

Learning through being, having the experience is the best way to learn. In other cases, I am sure there are those on a path that leads them to teach, motivating a return to the physical. There could be potential karmic indications, soul group agreements or other unfinished business. Reincarnation is an individual choice, driven by inspirations that are unique and personal.

In the Tibetan Book of the Dead, it states that after death, individuals wait 49 days before they incarnate or move on. Is this true?

Linear time does not exist in nonphysical realities. There is no universal timeline or trajectory for souls after their transition. We are individual souls and have free will to make choices, just like we do in the physical world. My path, your path, and the path of our neighbors are all going to be different. For example, some remain close to the physical (the parallel dimension) due to their physical attachments or unfulfilled issues. Many/most rejoin their loved ones within the comfortable astral consensus realities. A few will seek higher dimensional realities.

So, I have found that this is an arbitrary manmade belief. A strict rule about someone’s soul journey of 49 days (or any other time frame) is not accurate.

What is the “white light” that is so common in near death experiences?

The popular concept of going to the light is too generic to be helpful during our transition at death. I know from my OBEs that any nonphysical dimensional reality can appear lighter or brighter than the physical. During my workshops I instruct my students to be more focused and specific; for example, Higher Self Now! or Spiritual Essence Now!

Every culture is different, so use the words that resonate with you to focus attention on your highest spiritual goal or concept.

Is the white light a reincarnation trap?

The core underlining “trap” is the lack of personal knowledge/experience relative to our nonphysical immortal self. Let us face the hard truth: most people are ego-driven and unaware of their true self and their multidimensional nature. Most still believe they are biological human animals and remain heavily programmed by the flawed beliefs of their culture and society. As a result, at death they largely accept the first reality and collective they encounter at their death. The “reincarnation trap” is not an external creation by some collective of evil entities; it is instead a self-made repetition created by the choices we make.

How does suicide effect the person’s afterlife?

There is not just one single answer to this as the nonphysical-reality result will be determined by the mindset (beliefs, fears, motivations, and state of consciousness) of the individual. Nothing is permanent for everyone is slowly evolving and changing—even after leaving the physical body. The life of consciousness continues. I write about this in my book, Higher Self Now.

It is important to note that every individual is on a unique path, so even as we grieve their absence, we must remember that it is not for us to judge their actions.

Will I experience my soul after death?

Each of us will experience the energy body and vibrational reality that is in sync with our state of consciousness; most humans will experience their astral bodies and reenter the astral dimension. Soul exists at a much higher energy frequency than the astral body and few people today have developed their state of consciousness to the spiritual level of perfection (self-realization or enlightenment). Those rare individuals who have become spiritually enlightened during their physical lives will experience the higher-frequency levels of the universe.

We are multidimensional beings currently functioning with many different vibrational energy bodies. Our astral body is not soul; it is our subtle energy body closest to the density of matter. When we shed our outer physical bodies, we shift our awareness to the next subtle energy body we already possess.

How do souls spiritually progress after death?

We progress by breaking free of the massive physical indoctrination and dense limits we carry with us. We move forward by systematically purging our subtle astral body and our mind of all negative energies such as anger and fear. We can also advance through selfless, dedicated service to others. Most importantly, we evolve by consciously connecting with our spiritual essence.

What can I do to support that progress?

Many are surprised to learn that the process of spiritual development continues much the same after death; only the density of the environment has changed. To begin, it is important to cleanse our astral body and our mind of all lingering negative energies.

What fears, guilt, anger, hatred, and attachments do you continue to hold? It is vital to practice effective methods to have profound spiritual experiences so we can expand our conscious awareness beyond the confines of our current energy body and connect with our true self—our spiritual essence.

What is the single most common issue that hinders our spiritual progress in the afterlife?

After death, our continuing attachment to our past physical life focuses our attention on matter. The result is that millions of people are energetically drawn to the lower dimensional levels that are close in frequency to the density of Earth. We experience what we focus our attention upon. This is why many influential teachers such as Buddha repeatedly emphasized the need for detachment from the physical. The key is to release the past and embrace your continuing adventures in the afterlife. How can we ever experience liberation and our ultimate spiritual potential when we remain focused on the density of Earth?

The Relationship to Religious Beliefs

What is the biblical heaven?

The biblical concept of heaven was an early attempt to describe the many magnificent unseen energy dimensions that exist beyond our physical vision. In general, heaven is a series of subtle-energy environments that are highly thought-responsive and are molded by the thoughts of the inhabitants. Millions of nonphysical realities exist and the variations of these "heavenly" environments are unlimited. We have heard about Valhalla, The Elysian Fields, Nirvana, The Promised Land, Avalon, and more. Many of these could be perceived to be a spiritual or ‘biblical’ paradise.

Do all souls go to everlasting biblical heaven at death?

The popular belief that we automatically enter and remain in some mythic everlasting heaven at death is just one interpretation of a nonphysical destination. The biblical heaven described in holy texts is what we know as the vast, multidimensional universe. We are immortal, nonphysical beings; at death we shed our outer dense body and enter the energy dimension that resonates with our current state of consciousness and spiritual development.

Most humans reconnect with their loved ones and experience a pleasant physical-like reality located within the astral dimension. Based upon decades of exploration, countless afterlife environments and realities (heavens) exist within a series of nonphysical energy dimensions. Our evolution as soul is centered on change and growth in multiple dimensional realities.

What are the second and third heavens?

After a person’s initial entry and orientation into their first "heavenly" environment, some will awaken to the fact that other realities are available. These souls will eventually explore beyond the consensus limits of their peer group. As we raise our state of consciousness—exploring inward beyond the first energy body, we can experience higher-vibrational environments (heavens) within the astral dimension and beyond. As a side note: most religious texts—including the Bible, the Quran, and the Tibetan Book of the Dead—refer to multiple heavens.

Are we met by Jesus, angels, or other religious icons at death?

At death, most people are met by members of their family and soul group—familiar loved ones and peers. We will likely be reunited with individuals we know that are equal to or close to our state of consciousness and spiritual development. In other words, you will likely meet those who are evolving at a similar level to you. This is an account of a woman whose sister was dying.

“She would awaken from unconsciousness to tell me of her meetings with our grandmother and other family members that had passed on. She would speak of detailed conversations where she was offered reassurance that she was going to be in a wonderful place when she decided to ‘let go’ and then she quietly died about 2 weeks later.”

Are there churches and religions in the afterlife?

Yes. Souls are drawn to those of like mind, often recreating the environments and structures that are familiar to them. All religions—even ancient ones—continue in the astral dimension in some manner. Often the core doctrines are adjusted to meet the aspirations of the current group collective consciousness. For example, the role of Jesus is often reframed from a God-like image to that of an advanced spiritual being existing in a higher dimension.

Does eternal hell or damnation exist?

Nothing is eternal. Our thoughts are a powerful double-edged sword that shape our reality now and after death, and as a result we can create either heaven or hell for ourselves. We must be extremely careful how we focus our thoughts and intentions.

Hell is not a place—it is a state of consciousness.

The many humans that remain obsessed with the existence of hell embrace concepts that are often primitive and heavily influenced by their religions. The entire concept of eternal hell and penance was created for the purpose of manipulation and control.

Spiritual evolution, not punishment, is the underlying principle of our existence.

Can we change our location and circumstances even after death?

All afterlife environments, both positive and negative, are formed by the consciousness of the inhabitants. Because of this, there exists an extreme diversity of energy realities. All souls have the capability to elevate their state of consciousness and transition to higher-frequency environments.

Reality in every dimension, including the physical, is always in a state of flux and can be changed by our spiritual progression. Eventually, all souls will become enlightened, even if it takes millions of Earth years. This is the brilliant design of our magnificent universe—the spiritual evolution of soul through extensive personal experiences.

What is karma?

Essentially this is the natural balance of energies, seen and unseen. It is not punishment or retribution.

I have read that some of our enlightened teachers return to the physical plane to help others. Do they retain all their wisdom, free of karmic challenges when they return?

I agree that many spiritual leaders return to the physical as teachers. This impact of karma and carried-over wisdom is different for each being as they deal with their own challenges during incarnation. Each teacher has their own motivation and level of expertise.

There are many schools in many dimensions. So, you can learn from multiple sources, physical or not. We should be open to all forms of communication that can advance our expansion of consciousness.

Would someone's intention to return to God or the Father or Source be enough? Do we have to make a command as to where we wish to go?

That would depend on the spiritual evolution of the individual. The ideal intent is to raise your consciousness/vibration to the highest level that is possible for you at that moment of transition. Use the terms that are fitting for you. There is only positive energy in raising your awareness to the highest level possible during transition.

One affirmation that Susan uses in her hospice work is "Raise your consciousness to the highest level that is appropriate for your evolution. Go to the highest point that is right for you." This is because she does not always know the emotional desires or status of that person’s spiritual evolution. This kind of affirmation could be effective for anyone regardless of their background. It is about the intention not necessarily the exact words.

Expectations

What does the afterlife look like?

We will experience the afterlife that resonates with our own individual state of consciousness. Even though the number is unlimited, most people will experience physical-like environments that are comfortable and familiar to them. Many people who have had near-death experiences recall environments that are more vibrant and beautiful than their earthly counterparts. An all-pervasive and loving light is said to saturate the higher-frequency realities. Gardens, parks, oceans, deserts, universities, libraries, churches, rivers, and mountains have been described.

Groups of souls that share a collective vision often experience surroundings that are the same as or like their previous existence on Earth. Evidence strongly suggests that most astral inhabitants remain cloistered within a relatively limited physical-like environment. There are countless magnificent nonphysical realities; however, we will experience the one that resonates with our individual state of consciousness.

Do we receive the answers to life's great mysteries after death?

The dead do not magically become all-knowing or spiritual. For many, the state of consciousness remains the same; only the density of the energy body is changed. As we continue our journey of personal development through many lives and experiences. It is up to each of us to heighten our awareness and develop our full potential as an immortal soul.

What can I expect during the afterlife experience?

The afterlife provides every imaginable form of entertainment, interest, and method of creative expression and personal development. All forms are widely available, with music, art, and theater being major preoccupations for many souls. The essential skills of creation and healing are developed through the manipulation of energy. Advanced and innovative methods of construction, architecture, science, and the manifestation of art through form are practiced by many.

Anything that we can imagine can exist, for all creation is achieved by focused thought. Each soul pursues his or her selected hobbies, sports, art forms, and recreational interests. For those seeking personal growth and spiritual development, no limits exist except those created by each soul.

Will I maintain my same state of consciousness and personality after death?

Yes. Your personality imprints and state of consciousness continue after death. Whether inexperienced or enlightened, you will continue your individual path of spiritual evolution and development. Only the outer body will be changed; the mindset of the individual remains.

Is going to the light sufficient to experience liberation?

No. When we enter any higher-vibrational reality, it will appear much brighter and lighter than the physical world. When first entering the astral dimension, it will appear as a brilliant light when compared to the density of matter. Be aware, the pleasant nonphysical realities that most humans experience at death exist far from our true spiritual home. It is essential to be very specific and focused when using our mantras during all altered states of consciousness, and especially at death. Never settle for the mundane physical reflections of Earth. Aim high: Spiritual Liberation Now!

Why is knowledge of the afterlife so important in our transition at death?

Most of us were taught from birth that if we live a good life and have faith in a religious doctrine, we automatically go to a heavenly paradise. Regrettably, this is a false assumption. At death, a great majority of humanity enters a nonphysical energy dimension and reality existing just out of phase with the physical world. People are met by loved ones and are reunited in a very pleasant, physical-like environment.

The environment appears ideal when compared to our past physical existence. At death, most people settle for the first environment they experience. They remain unaware that other realities and dimensions are available that are far more magnificent. The physical-like realities that most assume are the ultimate heaven are actually the epidermis in the continuum of dimensions that make up the multidimensional universe. By our own actions, we have essentially settled for and accepted the energy reflections of Earth instead of the glorious realities of the higher-vibrational dimensions that are our true spiritual home.

With spiritual development we gain the ability to enter and navigate the endless thought-responsive dimensions of the afterlife. Armed with self-knowledge, we become empowered. This is our destiny as an evolved soul.

What are the biggest challenges that we face in the afterlife environment?

It is important to be aware of the possibilities that exist as we transfer our consciousness from the physical to the nonphysical. Here are a few situations we might encounter that could slow our spiritual progress.

• We look for liberation/salvation outside of ourselves.

• We accept the first reality we perceive and experience as our home/heaven.

• We connect and reunite with the first people that we encounter.

• We fail to continue our inner journey of consciousness because we have settled for a mundane reality that is comfortable.

What will my nonphysical body look like?

After death, most adults will appear as a younger version of their most recent past physical body. The nonphysical body is extremely thought-responsive and will automatically assume the self-image held by our conscious and subconscious mind.

It is common for nonphysical residents to assume their dominant self-identity which would likely be one where they appear to be in their prime of life, with a continuation of their last physical gender, race, and personal identity. However, if you relate more to the appearance and persona from a different timeline, then you could very well take on those characteristics.

Can I assist my friends and family during their transition?

Yes, to a limited degree.

For over a thousand years, the Tibetan Buddhist monks have chanted by the bedside of the dying, “Go to the clear light of the Void!” Today we can provide the same form of spiritual assistance for our loved ones and ourselves but in a more modern context. During a loved one’s transition, we can silently or verbally chant, “Higher Self Now!” or “Spiritual Source Now!” The intention is to focus upon our spiritual essence and go beyond the astral dimension realities (bardos) and ultimately escape the cycle of reincarnation.

Maintain a flow of positive spiritual affirmations for your loved ones or yourself. There are many examples, ideas, and practices outlined in my book, Higher Self Now! The corresponding online workshop, “Our Incredible Journey” is described in the reference section.

After death, will we function like we have a physical body?

Most people will continue to maintain their physical-like identity and capabilities. The nonphysical body we experience at death is a thought-responsive structure consisting of subtle energy and is molded by our mindset. As nonphysical beings, we no longer possess biological vehicles of expression; we do not breathe air, require sleep, see and hear with physical eyes and ears, or evacuate waste. However, billions of souls residing within the astral dimension will continue to eat, sleep, and do many physical-like activities out of habit.

As we grow in spiritual awareness, our attachment to our physical self-identity diminishes and our creative abilities as an immortal soul become heightened.

Will I experience a new or resurrected spiritual body at death?

The concept of a born-again or resurrected physical body is misleading, as each of us already possesses a subtle astral body that is an essential component of our multidimensional nature. When we shed the physical body at death, we simply transfer our conscious awareness from the outer physical body and experience our subtle astral body. Death is the natural shedding of our dense vehicle of consciousness.

What is the second death you talk about?

We will all experience a physical death and soon after many of us will participate in a consensus reality. For those who are ready for the next level in their evolution, the second death is the shedding of our etheric or astral body and the movement of our conscious awareness into our higher-frequency energy body. An example is presented in part one of Adventures in the Afterlife; immediately before Frank enters his spiritual training, he experiences a second death and subsequent rebirth into a higher-frequency energy body. We are all active participants in a multidimensional soul development process. Our education and evolution will continue through many different vibrational energy bodies and within the corresponding realities.

How do we communicate after death?

All communication is by direct thought transference. This is a far more effective and elegant form of communication than crude physical language. The nonphysical body does not possess biological vocal cords, ears, or eyes. We communicate through our thoughts and emotions, both conscious and subconscious.

Which dimension will I experience at death?

Most of humanity will find themselves living in a physical-like consensus reality located within the astral dimension. We are drawn to the energy reality that most resonates with our individual state of consciousness and self-identity.

Will my surroundings be physical-like after death?

Yes. After death, our immediate nonphysical environment and body can be as real and solid as the physical world is to us now. Our energy body and our environment will consist of a form of subtle energy and frequency that is less dense than the physical.

Can I choose my own environment on whatever plane I find myself on?

If you have accepted a consensus reality as your own, then it is more difficult to change that easily. To move or change your reality, you must change your mindset. People will experience what is comfortable for them—this is like what we choose in the physical world. You always have the option to change your environment but it can become difficult if you have not accepted the mindset that you can go to the place of your choice.

The Afterlife Community

What is a soul group?

This is a collective of souls who are evolving together through multiple experiences within the physical and astral dimensions. Many souls choose to evolve through the hardships of the physical world with a select group of spiritual friends and acquaintances instead of complete strangers. Members of soul groups share individual and collective aspirations for their spiritual growth. The core soul group number varies widely; however, groups of twenty to forty individuals are not uncommon. There is increasing anecdotal evidence that primary and secondary soul groups exist.

Is there such a thing as a soul mate or a twin flame? If so, what is their role?

Many of us have had dozens, potentially hundreds, of incarnations and relationships. We can be naturally attracted to many different love interests during our extensive existence.

There are strong connections between souls based on these past experiences and the building of trust by successfully working together. You can have multiple soul mates depending on what your agreement is when/if you reincarnate. In that sense you might also call these mission or quest mates. In your physical life, these connections will not always be romantic. You could be together as siblings, mentors, creative partners, or even best friends. It really depends on what your common goals are for this life.

Will my current relationships continue?

A strong bond of love and attachment in the physical world is likely to continue in the afterlife. However, we are all faced with a choice whether to maintain any of those or other social interactions. It is common for primary-soul-group relationships to continue in some form.

Is there sex in the afterlife?

It can be part of your experience; however, it is different than in the physical world. Nonphysical sex within the astral dimension is more of an energetic melding of conscious energy. Many describe it as a merging of emotional energy that is far more intense than physical sex—like a full-body orgasm of the mind.

Do we have special abilities after death?

That depends on the personal limits held after death. Most people are creatures of habit and will remain psychologically attached to their physical self-concept and limits. The more advanced will experience greater freedom of mobility and be able to move beyond the confines of a single reality. The evolved soul can project its awareness into multiple, dimensional realities, transcend all barriers, and interact and communicate with higher-evolved beings.

Our abilities as soul expand as we connect with our spiritual essence and release our physical indoctrination. As we grow spiritually, we naturally become more aware of our unlimited multidimensional abilities and expand our knowledge and our access to higher-frequency realities.

Are there children in the afterlife?

Yes, after death, a child’s self-identity will continue to mold his or her own subtle energy body. Most children will experience their astral bodies as the same age and gender that they were on Earth. The education and guidance of children is a major endeavor in the astral dimension and many souls devote their existence to the care, nurturing, and education of children. This is a highly regarded labor of love. As children grow in awareness and maturity, their energy body will also change to reflect their state of consciousness.

Are my deceased loved ones still available to meet with me when it is my time to transition?

Our loved ones continue to thrive after death; they are not projections or some digital information that fades. I know this from personal face-to-face contact with my “dead” loved ones during multiple OBEs. This includes my mother, brother, uncle, and other loved ones. These experiences were life changing for me.

What happened when you met up with your mother?

She appeared as a radiant and energetic young woman in her middle to late 20s. Escorting me to her modest astral dimension home, she proudly showed me around the neighborhood. She also talked about her sisters living “down the street” as she phrased it. Our communication was by direct thought transference, much more elegant than physical spoken words. Her unconditional love was projected to me without the need for words. It was overwhelming! This gave me immense joy, comfort, and confirmation to absolutely know that our afterlife is a reality.

This is one of the many reasons why our explorations of consciousness are so important to all of us.

Do near-death experiences (NDEs) provide accurate information about the afterlife?

Having an NDE provides a glimpse into what may lie ahead for us after death. However, human perceptions are often distorted because they are framed by the belief system of the individual. The afterlife realities are extremely thought-responsive. For example, a Christian may perceive Jesus or angels, a Native American may see an animal spirit guide, and a person from India may see Yamraj—the Hindu king of the dead. It is important to note that NDEs have been proven to reduce or even eliminate fear in those that who had the experience. From this perspective it is very valuable. NDEs provide an extraordinarily special moment for someone, but based on this single brief experience one should not assume this is a complete picture of the afterlife.

Can I manifest anything I want in the afterlife?

This depends on your personal spiritual development and the nonphysical reality you are experiencing. You will most likely enter a consensus reality that will be as stable and real as the physical world. In Adventures in the Afterlife, Frank (the main character) could not change the first reality that he moved into. He could not alter it, even though he knew that there was something better. He was locked in a reality maintained by the collective thought (the consensus) of the inhabitants. As he expanded his awareness, he learned how to navigate the many diverse afterlife realities and effectively mold his reality.

Can I become a spiritual guide to others?

An important result of our absolute self-knowledge and interdimensional mobility as soul is the privilege to assist others. The greater our spiritual awareness and mobility, the easier it will be to support our loved ones in the afterlife. Our ability to navigate effectively in the various nonphysical environments of the afterlife will allow us to provide valuable insight and assistance to those we encounter. If we choose, we can become a spiritual teacher sharing the knowledge we have acquired about the multidimensional nature of the spiritual universe. With our acquired interdimensional experience, we can become an effective guide to people both living and dead.

Do animals experience life after death?

Yes! On many occasions I and others have observed and interacted with animals during our out-of-body experiences. Animals continue to exist after death just like we do. I have previously shared a vivid experience about nonphysical contact with my dog. During one OBE I clearly witnessed a thin string or what some would call a “silver cord” emanating from the nonphysical dog and leading back to its physical body. This cord appeared as thin as a spider’s silk.

The bottom line: based on my nonphysical observations for 50 years I can say without a doubt that animals are multidimensional and continue after death like us.

Can I assist my pet to make a spiritual transition?

Yes, we can assist our pets or other animals in their spiritual journey at death. We can provide the same support we would for any other loved one in our life. For more information about this, see the chapter, “Pets and their Journey of Consciousness.”

Why is developing our creative abilities so important to our afterlife?

All nonphysical realities are thought-responsive to some degree. The more that we develop our creative abilities and focus during our physical life, the greater will be our ability to influence and shape the thought-responsive environments we will experience in the afterlife.

You often talk about energy constructs. What are they?

Essentially, they are crystallized thought forms and events made manifest by the consciousness of either individuals or groups. Constructs are thought forms that possess a three-dimensional energy structure and are perceived as a solid reality by the observer. Afterlife realities are generally less dense and more thought-responsive than the physical, so these energy constructs can manifest faster than matter.

Why are our spiritual affirmations so important during the process of death?

A mindset focused on our highest spiritual intention can assist us to achieve our stated goal. Repeated affirmations are one of the most effective and universal methods to saturate our mind and achieve our focused intention. Our focused spiritual intention can raise our individual frequency rate and our state of consciousness assisting us to potentially access higher-vibrational realities after death: “Higher Self Now!”

What do psychics see when communicating with the nonphysical world?

People that are sensitive to unseen energies (psychics) are to some degree aware of the developing thought forms within the etheric or often-called parallel dimension. The energy substructure of matter and the physical future are formed in this dimension.

What do you think about using a psychic medium to communicate with the dead?

There are some very intuitive psychics who can deliver messages from the afterlife. Be aware that any information you obtain could be influenced by the psychic’s own mindset and viewpoints. The best way to receive feedback from your deceased loved one is through your own communication: meditation, trance states, and automatic writing, just to name a few. This can also be achieved through self-initiated lucid dreams and OBEs. For more information and personal accounts of those who have succeeded in contacting their loved ones, please refer to The Secret of the Soul.

I have tried to contact my deceased loved one several times but have not been able to receive a message from them. Why do you think this is not happening for me?

It is important to note that communication with anyone who has transitioned is by mutual consent.

• Your friend might be busy at the time when you reach out. We've all had many lifetimes and with that comes a variety of others who may also want to communicate. They might be involved with planning their next incarnation, or learning how to navigate in their new environment.

• Perhaps they have already reincarnated and are now directing their energy to building a new physical life.

• It is possible that the two of you are vibrating on different levels—it could be that one of you is on the etheric while the other is on the astral. As a result, the communication becomes more complex.

• You might also consider that some people in the physical have an unknown or unacknowledged hesitation about facing someone who has passed. This could block your connection.

How is communication with the departed experienced?

Not all communication is as obvious as a physical conversation. There are many subtle points of contact that we need to acknowledge and embrace. (a dream, an intuitive feeling, a synchronicity, etc.)

Automatic writing, visions, out-of-body experiences, lucid dreams, and focused meditation all provide an avenue for the departed to send messages to you.

Why would someone want to contact a person who has died?

People connect with their deceased loved ones for two primary reasons. First, they want some form of verification that their friend or family member is doing well and that they will someday be able to reunite. Another reason is an unresolved issue such as an apology or a word of gratitude that was never spoken during the physical relationship. Or perhaps it is as simple as just checking in on their friend’s journey, much like a phone call or text during their physical relationship. Everyone has a different motivation for this type of communication.

Can we make an impact now on our afterlife journey?

Yes. The environment we will enter at death is a subtle nonphysical reality that is thought-responsive and resonates with our state of consciousness. Group thought shapes and molds each nonphysical reality. Group collective thought is a powerful and creative force, and this is magnified in the subtle nonphysical environments of the afterlife.

While living in the physical world the creative power of our thoughts is slowed by the density of matter. However, when we examine our physical surrounding, we discover an amazing fact: every single object in our life was preceded by the creative energy of our thoughts. This is an exciting realization, because we begin to awaken to our enormous potential. It becomes even more exhilarating when we realize that our creative abilities are expanded exponentially when we enter the highly thought-responsive environments of the afterlife. An awe-inspiring future awaits those of us who understand and effectively focus the unlimited creative potential of our thoughts.

How do our explorations of consciousness assist during a transition?

OBEs and other meditations allow us to experience and adapt to the thought-responsive realities we will enter at death. According to many hospice workers and nurses, it is natural for individuals close to death to report spontaneous out-of-body experiences that include detailed communication and visitations with dead relatives and friends.

Based on all the available evidence, I feel strongly that out-of-body experiences are a natural event designed to prepare the dying for their new spiritual reality. It gives them an opportunity to adjust to their new nonphysical environment and adapt to the thought-responsive capabilities of their astral body. This can introduce awareness of the nonphysical world they are about to enter. It does not matter what religious beliefs you may hold; there is no escaping the fact that you will have an out-of-body experience and enter a new energy reality beyond the physical. Something this universal and important to your future deserves your attention.

How does energy play a role in the afterlife?

The energy dynamics of the afterlife are completely different than the laws of physics in the physical world. Each thought and emotion is a specific energy frequency. Due to the subtle energetic nature inherent in nonphysical environments, focused thoughts and emotions will mold our reality in the afterlife. Because our state of consciousness determines our afterlife reality, it becomes critical for us to focus on our mindset and our spiritual readiness before our transition. The energies we internalize directly influence our subtle nonphysical body and the environment we will experience after death.

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The environment we will enter at death is a subtle nonphysical reality that is thought-responsive and resonates with our state of consciousness. Group thought shapes each nonphysical environment with a powerful a force, and this is magnified many times in the subtle nonphysical environments of the afterlife.

In the physical world we can underestimate the impact of this creative force because the cause and effect of our thoughts are slowed down by the density of matter. However, when we examine our physical surrounding, we discover an amazing fact: every single object in our life was preceded by the energy of our thoughts. This is an exciting revelation, because we begin to awaken to our true spiritual potential.

This is even more exciting when we realize that our creative abilities are expanded greatly when we enter the highly thought-responsive environments of the afterlife. An exciting future awaits those of us that understand and exercise our unlimited capability.

 Our Higher Self extends beyond the human concepts of time, density, gender, and race. We possess the ability to use multiple energy bodies as instruments for exploration and expression. Our spiritual essence holds the knowledge of all our collective experiences in this lifetime and all life experiences in every dimension.

The ideal method to experience our Higher Self is through the exploration of our consciousness. This profound spiritual connection can be achieved through a variety of approaches including: deep meditation and yoga practices, spiritual mantras, self-initiated and directed out-of-body experiences, and lucid dreams, just to name a few. By stilling the ego mind, we begin to open the door to transcendental inner states of being within us.

How do I connect with my Higher Self?

There are many methods and approaches to the inner exploration of consciousness. Various deep meditation practices are the most frequently used today. In addition, trance work, focused self-hypnosis, self-initiated and controlled OBEs, self-directed lucid dreaming, shamanic ceremony, assorted yoga methods, and even medicine plant journeys are all practiced. We are all different, so explore a variety of methods and follow your intuition concerning what approach resonates with you. The key is to become an active spiritual explorer instead of a passive believer of manmade doctrines

Is the ability to have an OBE necessary to experience my Higher Self at death?

No. Having an OBE is not a prerequisite for reaching your Higher Self whether at death or anytime during your life. However, the same issues that are hindering your ability to have a conscious OBE could also deter you from reaching your spiritual goal at death.

I am an atheist. Can I still reunite with my Higher Self? Should I even try?

Yes, unchanging spiritual reality does not care what we believe or do not believe.

For many people the concept of connecting with our spiritual essence or Higher Self is an ethereal idea. How can we connect with something existing beyond matter, mind, and duality? One approach is to visualize an idealized spiritual image or representation that you can identify. For example, a sphere of radiant white light, a magnificent glowing yellow sun, or any image that you may feel represents your highest spiritual aspiration in this lifetime can be effective. A distinctive form-based image can be helpful to focus our intention on our highest spiritual goal.

What may occur during a Higher Self experience?

Everyone perceives this profound experience differently. While having a spiritual experience, the physical body often appears to be in a deeply relaxed state or trance. In general, your awareness will shift inward and away from the physical senses. During the initial phases, you may experience vibrational or Kundalini phenomena including energy surges, inner sounds, and temporary paralysis.

Common elements include trance-like states of consciousness, slowed breathing, and a distorted concept of time. Many report a feeling of weightlessness and a complete disassociation from the physical body. A perception of inner motion and a surge of energy through your body can be followed by vibrations or numbness. This shift will frequently manifest as an expanded state of consciousness that may include perception beyond the physical body.

The separation from the physical body and ego can lead to transcending the limits of time and space. Our perception expands beyond form-based images and is often highlighted by 360-degree vision. The connection to all existence is heightened and there is an overwhelming sense of pure love that can manifest as an ocean of light or a magnificent transcendent presence. Awareness of a completely nonphysical, non-form-based reality is often reported. An extensive examination of this experience is detailed in my first two books.

Why is it so important to connect with our Higher Self?

The biblical concept of Heaven is the nonphysical interior of the multidimensional universe, consisting of unlimited energy dimensions. Everyone will experience the nonphysical reality/heaven that resonates with them. Connecting with our Higher Self provides a considerable enrichment to our spiritual development by providing the opportunity for us to experience a transformational shift of consciousness. This will enrich our perception beyond the physical body and the ego mind.

Further, it allows us to open to and experience the divine source within us. Words are inadequate to describe the profound impact this merging would be to our spiritual evolution. My experience, which I shared in Part One, is so descriptive that I am repeating it here:

“With a sensation of extreme inner motion, I’m thrust through layers upon layers of energy and color. It feels as if my mind is being stretched throughout the entire universe. The intensity is impossible to describe and just as suddenly all motion ceases. My entire being bathes in the clear light of pure presence and I feel a sense of freedom I’ve never dreamed possible. A feeling of complete peace and harmony saturates my being. I float in an ethereal ocean of glorious living light and I am connected to all life. No three-dimensional form just an endless loving sea of pure white conscious light. Waves of bliss and levels of love and joy saturate my awareness and I comprehend a staggering truth—I am all, connected to all, there is no separation. I am consciously connected to all that is, yet I somehow remain an individual. I feel connected to the entire expanse of the vast universe and its wisdom. Words are useless. I surrender in this experience and am saturated by an ocean of unconditional love. Upon returning to my body, I am forever changed.”

How can you describe the Higher Self if it exists beyond all three-dimensional form?

For clarity, we can describe the Higher Self as the essence of consciousness existing beyond the mind and the ego personalities of man—our center point that exists beyond all density, duality, beliefs, and separation. It is our essential core, that which has guided us through all our lives, supporting our present education on Earth and preparing us for our infinite journey. It is the very heart of our being that knows our strengths, weaknesses, and desires. It is the part of us that understands the unseen purpose for our experiences.

How do I know when I have made the connection?

Your Higher Self will assist the intellectual part of your mind to identify your mission or goal for this physical incarnation. Those individuals who have blocked the inner relationship to their Higher Self will often feel empty, bored, uneasy, or even have vague feelings of remorse. If you have discovered your mission, then your Higher Self will confirm that you are successfully moving along the right path or, if needed, let you know that you have wandered from it.

What will I gain by making this connection?

Connecting to your Higher Self is important because it provides a powerful way to awaken to your life’s purpose and accomplish your mission while here in this physical body. It provides you with expanded self-awareness and an unshakable knowing that will transcend the mind.

When connecting to your Higher Self during physical death, you can easily move to the highest level that is appropriate for your next phase of spiritual evolution. The following is a personal exercise to assist you in this connection.

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Connecting with our Higher Self allows us to experience a transformational shift of consciousness, enhancing our perception beyond the physical body and the ego mind. It accelerates our growth by opening us to our true self—a life-changing experience.

 Guides are there to assist us. These can be loved ones, spiritual teachers, and those who have specific purposes such as physical or emotional healing. But to be clear, they will not lead us. That would circumvent our free will, interfering with our primary direction.

Guides will be by our side to support, encourage, and advise us—but not to drag us forward or hold us back. They can plant seeds for us to nurture, help us to grow in our space. They will often wait for cues or requests before helping.

What kind of Guides are available to assist us?

Guides can take the form and personality of those we have known in the physical—those who hold special meaning to us. We can also receive support from “specialists” such as Reiki or other healing helpers, teachers, or past-life counselors. And these can be available at your request. There are also those who may have not yet incarnated and are drawn to support those in the physical.

Sometimes it is more difficult to identify who the guide is from their appearance. Here is another example from Susan’s hospice experience:

There was a resident in our hospice facility who said, “There’s a little girl sitting on the couch waiting for me.” The volunteer asked “Who is she?” The reply was, “I don’t know, but she’s staying here until I’m ready to leave.”

Do we always have the same group of Guides?

It is likely that most of your guides would remain intact throughout your current physical life. This is because they would be best in tune with your trajectory of evolution. They are present to help you achieve your goals. You could even have some beings from your soul group on your team. There may be instances, though, where a new or unfamiliar guide could enter the scene to help you with a specific purpose.

How can we ask for help from our Guides?

We can ask for assistance through meditation, automatic writing, visualizations, or even during lucid dreams. It can be as simple as stating your request either out loud or silently. One of your best opportunities for guidance is to ask your Higher Self. There is much more on that topic in Higher Self Now!

Are guides available to assist in the afterlife or are they only there when you are physical?

Even as we leave the physical world, we can still look for guidance from our nonphysical allies. In fact, it is possible to receive even more attention when you first enter the astral. But this is an individual situation and each of us may have a different experience.

These may or may not be the same beings that you have had interactions with while you were in the physical world.

Do guides give up on you and leave when you don’t ask for help?

No. They will always be there when you seek their support. There will be times in our life where we do not ask for our guides’ assistance and other times when an event may drive us to repeatedly put requests into our meditations. There is no linear time in the nonphysical so frequency and length of contact has no meaning.

Do you have to be a good person to access the assistance of guides?

Guides, guardian angels, and spirit helpers do not judge the behavior of their human contacts. They understand that the physical world presents many challenges to us and that this is how we learn, how we evolve.

If you do not believe in Guides, are they still there or do they focus on helping those that believe in their existence?

Guides are always there for us whether we believe in them or not.

I have seen nonphysical beings when traveling out-of-body. It is sometimes frightening but I would like to overcome that feeling and retrieve messages from them. I think they may be my guides trying to communicate. What can I do as far as interaction with them?

I can personally relate to the shock of seeing an unfamiliar entity during an out-of-body experience. It took me awhile to accept this as a normal part of being aware during an OBE. Remain non-judgmental. It is likely that they are just curious about you. They may be looking for you to lead the conversation. The more confident you become, you will realize that you are a powerful, immortal being that cannot be harmed. Look beyond the shape and form of your guest and ask to experience the essence of the being. “What do you represent?” “Show me your essence.” Here is a great example of someone who asked the important questions when he was in the company of a guide:

“First there was a whooshing sound and I felt the movement upward. I directed my attention outside and floated through the wall. At first, I saw rings of color, like what you might see around Saturn. I flew through the rings and found myself in an old bar, one that is typically found on the outskirts of a city with some history. I saw two people standing over in the corner that seemed to pull at my attention. I reached out to touch the man because I admired his leather jacket. I don’t think that he liked it because he shrugged my hand away. I asked “Who are you? Are you my guide?” He told me he was a stand in because my regular guide was out for a while. Overall, I think they were annoyed with me – it was like they had to watch someone else’s kid. I wondered if the second person there (who never said anything) was a trainee or a supervisor?”

It is important to understand that when we leave our bodies, we are no longer in “our” space or room. We have entered another dimension of reality and we should be prepared for contact because it is likely to occur. In this case, it was interesting that it was a ‘stand-in’ for another guide.

What does a guide look and sound like?

The unseen dimensions consist of energy and are inhabited by billions of different life forms. Consciousness uses different forms for expression. There is no limit to the variety of available forms. The humanoid is only one of many.

A truly evolved life form is not limited to a simple shape or mode of communication to contact you. Be open to different possibilities—a monk that you have never met, a treasured pet from a different time in your life, or even a glowing beam of light. The following is an example from Susan’s hospice experience.

“Tess was a beautiful woman in her nineties. She had been one of the original Rosie the Riveter ladies, a proficient ballroom dancer and amateur artist. As she lay dying, she told her daughter about a young boy that had been standing by her bed. He appeared to be about 4 years old with striking blue eyes. By not denying the account, her daughter honored the vision, even though she herself had not seen the child.

Later she mentioned to the nurse that her mother had seen this boy. The nurse asked, “Did he have blond hair?” After the daughter said yes, the nurse explained that a few times older women in this facility had seen that very same boy waiting by their bedside.”

In this scenario, the escort or guide had taken the form of a young boy to be seen as non-threatening. For your own clarification, you can ask to experience the true essence of any being that you encounter.

Can our loved ones communicate to us with guidance?

Yes, and they frequently will provide some emotional support if that is how they interacted with you in the physical. They are generally close to you and know when you have need of help. This is an example that I overheard in a nearby shop.

“I was getting a massage from a therapist who was having some relationship problems. As I lay on the table in complete relaxation, I got the message ‘Tell her love will come.’ It was repeated several times to me. At first, I believed it was my own inner voice. Then I heard the name Sylvie a few times. After my session ended, I asked my therapist if she knew anyone named Sylvie. Initially she said no, it doesn’t sound familiar. And then she abruptly stopped what she was doing and told me – ‘My mom’s name was Sylvia, but her sister called her Sylvie.’ I passed along her message (Love will come) and it seemed to make her feel so much better.”

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Note: Keep in mind that guides may be nearby without any visible form at all.

When I was younger, I didn’t know that I had a team of non-physical entities that accompanied me – lingering just off-stage unseen and unheard. They would make contact when the time was right and in fact, I would have interactions with them later in life when I was more prepared to accept their presence. Here is an example.

“One evening, I was driving from Florida to Maryland on a 4-lane highway. I had been driving all night. It was very dark and I was sleepy. Suddenly, I felt a sharp slap on my face that startled me. It was then that I noticed a small VW ahead of me driving normally when a station wagon passed me at a high speed and hit the smaller car – causing it to roll end over end. At that point the station wagon veered away from the VW and hit a tree splitting the car in half. This happened just a few yards in front of me. I later learned there were multiple fatalities. That slap woke me so that I was aware enough to avoid being part of the collision. This most likely saved my life.”

This event occurred early during my explorations but it served as a reminder that support is available. As you recognize the presence and potential assistance from a guide, always remember to show gratitude. This is an expression that will encourage more help from them or other nonphysical beings that are looking to assist you through your journey.

 Those who have had a positive consciousness experience as a child often tell me that it has had a significant influence on their spiritual outlook as an adult. They usually appear to be more inquisitive and open to alternative methods of seeking the truth about their spiritual natures.

Can children have out-of-body experiences?

Yes. Children between the ages of 4-12 report a high incidence of spontaneous experiences. Evidence strongly suggests that children are more open to the encounters because they are less indoctrinated by their society and culture to accept matter as their physical self-concept. As they age, children are programmed by society to increasingly connect their self-identity with their dense physical bodies, and that is when conscious OBEs may diminish in frequency.

“One night, as an 8-year-old child, I went bed after a long, tiring day. I remembered some school work that I had forgotten to do. I tried to get up from my bed but I was too tired and heavy to move. So, I visualized myself walking over to my little desk. After counting to ten, I got up and walked over very easily. I sat down on my chair and looked over to my bed. I was surprised to see a lump there. Upon a closer look, I saw my own face! After a big bump, I was instantly back in my bed looking out of my own eyes.

Why would a child benefit from out-of-body travel?

One of the benefits of out-of-body travel for children is that it provides them with the opportunity to enter a unique learning environment—one that teaches them to confront their personal fears, develop relationships with their spiritual guides and resolve karmic situations. To hear children describe this process in such a natural and honest way reinforces this fact.

Some young explorers tell us that they have been able to say goodbye to recently deceased loved ones or hello to those they have never met. Meetings with family members can be very comforting and these are generally very positive experiences.

Many provide examples of flying, playing with imaginary friends, or rising above their own physical bodies. A varied range of nonphysical movement can indicate a spiritually developed individual. This is true for all ages because as we conquer our internal fears, our spiritual freedom becomes more evident.

How can I support children that I know without scaring them or setting unrealistic expectations?

This depends on the age and maturity level of the child. Each child is an individual and perceives the experience from a unique viewpoint.

In general, let them take the lead when it comes to describing their experiences. Ask questions without being too detailed and allow them to direct the conversation. Also consider the influencers around them so confusion and distrust are minimized. The following is a short sample conversation that might be appropriate for your child:

Parent – Do you remember any dreams you had last night?
Child – Yes, I was flying over some trees.
Parent – Wow, that sounds like fun. What did it feel like?
Child – I think I was a bird because I could swoop around and see everything beneath me.
Parent – Do you have any thoughts about it?
Child – I just felt light and free. It wasn’t scary at all.
Parent – That sounds like you had a great experience. Let’s write that down so you can remember it for later.

My child becomes frightened during an experience, especially during the vibrational state. Do you have any techniques that can help?

Adults that experience the energy sensations that accompany the vibrational state can use logic, research, or life experience to explain what is happening. For the young traveler it can be more unsettling. Educating your child (in terms they can understand) can provide support. If needed, together you could visualize a protector or companion that is age appropriate, a being that will always be there to accompany the explorer.

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The support of a trusted loved one may be the most critical part of a child’s spiritual development. When a child talks to the parent about an out-of-body experience or the vibrational state, it is always helpful when the adult is familiar with the phenomena associated with these events. In this book there is a chapter titled, “The Vibrational State, Recognizing the Precursor to an Out-Of-Body Experience.” If there is a child in your circle of influence, it would be helpful if you could be knowledgeable about this natural process.

“On a dozen different occasions, my son told me about waking with a powerful noise vibrating within him. It would scare him because he didn’t know what was happening. He said it sometime felt like an earthquake or electrical current flowing through his entire body. Sometimes he couldn’t move for several minutes. This all started when he was twelve. It’s good to finally know what this is. Now he’s no longer scared of it.”

As with any issues related to young children, be sure to involve the parents/caregivers to avoid conflict and confusion within a family unit.

Note: In my fictional book, Beyond the Astral, there is a short story “The Boy Who Could Fly” where a young boy tries to explain to his mother about his out-of-body adventures.  

Not only do animals have souls, but they are obviously evolving right along beside us. And this appears to be true with all animals, not just domesticated pets. So, if you see a cat while you are in an altered state, it is not a glitch in the Matrix!

Do animals experience life beyond the physical?

Yes! On several occasions, I have observed and interacted with animals during my out-of-body experiences. It is clear to me that animals continue to exist after death just like we do.

In Secret of the Soul, I write about my first introduction to the nonphysical presence of an animal. This was a vivid nonphysical contact with my dog, a beagle puppy named McGregor. He was walking along beside me during an OBE when I clearly witnessed a string or what some would call a “silver cord” emanating from the nonphysical dog. It was connected to him and extended back to the bedroom where his physical body was sleeping. This cord appeared as thin and fine as a spider’s silk.

This was not something I expected to see and forever changed my perception of animals. They are multidimensional and continue after death.

Do our pets remain close to us after their death?

Based on my own experience and feedback from many people, our loving pets remain close to us in the parallel dimension for a period of Earth time, which could be several months or even longer. This varies because our perception of linear time does not exist in the nonphysical. Pets eventually transition to a less-dense reality within the astral dimension. Remember, all consciousness including our pets and animals are experiencing their own inner evolutionary journey.

Do pets communicate with their loved ones after their own physical death?

Yes, they can. Here is a good example of an actual event during a meditation session with a dying friend. This is from one of Susan’s hospice experiences:

“During a meditation I shared with a gentle lady under hospice care, there was a strong message passed to me from “Charlie.” He asked me to tell her “I am waiting here for you.” When we concluded our session, I asked her about Charlie, thinking it was her spouse or maybe a brother. She glowed and smiled saying that Charlie was her dog who had passed months before. This gave her great comfort to know that he was doing well and would be there waiting for her when she transitioned.”

Communication can be through a third party or directly to you if you are open to receive a message. The following is one example of a meditation that can bring you closer to a nonphysical connection.

Do pets reincarnate?

I do not know for certain, but I think it is likely. When it comes to reincarnation, we have the power of free choice and this seems to be true for animals as well. This is because all life forms are consciousness.

Many pet families would say that their animal friends are great company to us. They can also assist with our health needs and protect us from physical and emotional harm. But is it also possible that they have come into our lives to study and observe human behavior, traits, and activities in preparation for a human incarnation?

Can I assist my pet during their transition to the nonphysical?

Without a doubt, you can. Using soft, positive language that centers on love and gratitude can make a calming atmosphere for a pet that is transitioning. Energy healing can also be a comforting activity. I have heard that some play soothing music to bring peace to an animal who is preparing to leave the physical world. For more ideas, you can see Part 2 of my book, Higher Self Now, “Approaching Death with Wisdom and Grace.” You can use many of the techniques that assist humans in supporting a pet’s transition.

Are pets tuned into the nonphysical planes of existence?

Pets are in various states of spiritual evolution just as humans are. We’ve all seen videos of cats swatting at something that is not visibly apparent to us, or a dog that warns us of impending danger. They might have nonphysical perceptions that we as physical humans do not have. Here is an example reprinted from Secret of the Soul.

“I had one experience when I was about 8 years old. My cat had died tragically and I was devastated. One night I was praying to God and my Guardian angels to see my beloved cat one more time. My next memory was of leaving my bed and walking to the back door, all the while watching from up above. I proceeded to the backyard where my cat had been buried. I suddenly saw my cat run toward me and as I knelt, he jumped into my arms. I saw other cats as well, but they were unknown to me. The next morning my mother told me that I must have had an out-of-body experience. Afterward, I was able to heal because I had been reunited with my pet.”

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As we evolve, conscious contact with unseen dimensions and the inhabitants will become the accepted norm in our culture. It is important for us to be open and receptive to spiritual contact and information. This is particularly true of a loved one who has passed over to the nonphysical. It makes sense that this is appropriate for our animal friends as well as those in human form.

As consciousness we are all non-terrestrial, nonhuman beings visiting this current physical planet. All physical life forms are temporary vehicles of consciousness. Being a biological human is a fleeting experience. As consciousness, we are all temporary visitors to Earth from our nonphysical dimensional home. I have encountered nonhuman sentient beings during my OBEs; they are consciousness using form for expression just like us.

Are ETs real?

Yes. Explorers of consciousness have consistently reported the universe to be a multi-dimensional continuum of subtle nonphysical energies inhabited by many variations of conscious and intelligent life. It appears likely that the more evolved beings that inhabit the universe travel, explore, and interact on a multidimensional basis.

Is it possible that we think we are having an extraterrestrial experience, when it is our interpretation of an OBE or other altered-state experience?

Yes, it is possible. I do not question the existence of life forms other than our own, but my research shows that many of the conditions surrounding visitation reports are similar to that of an OBE. A few examples that have been shared with me are:

Paralysis: I heard noises that sounded like a high level of energy was above me. It gave me the impression that a UFO was overhead. I felt paralyzed, unable to move or make any sounds.”

Missing and Distorted Time: “I was traveling out of my body for some time and was surprised when I returned and looked at the clock. Only a few minutes had passed.”

Appearance of Unexplained Light: “During my OBE everything around me was illuminated by a strange glow, like a silvery full moon. When I returned to my body, it was 2 AM and the bedroom was dark.”

Shifts in Consciousness: “I found myself floating above my body and looking down on the room below. I felt free.”

Energy Sensations: “I wake up in the middle of the night feeling like I’ve merged with an electrical transformer. I honestly thought that the energy was invoked by extraterrestrials.”

Why are we suddenly hearing more about the presence of alien life forms?

The purpose of the worldwide increase in reported alien phenomena is to be found in consciousness itself. As a species we are being methodically prepared for and guided toward a significant shift in our group consciousness.

OBEs provide substantial evidence that we are evolving beyond the dense limits of matter. Is it not possible that some other species may have already achieved this evolutionary leap? I contend that all life forms are slowly evolving beyond the need for three-dimensional form. Eventually we will recognize and consciously explore our multidimensional nature and take our place in the magnificent thought-responsive realities of the universe.

How can we explore this phenomenon on our own?

The exploration of the universe, both physical and nonphysical, could be achieved by the direct use of focused consciousness and inner-dimensional motion. Three-dimensional form could be manifested as needed for the denser contact situations but would be unnecessary for physical observation or exploration.

Several times when I’ve had an out-of-body experience, I have encountered unusual beings. I was not afraid but I am curious as to how I know if these are extraterrestrials or enlightened souls that have a message for me?

Twenty-two percent of the responses that I have received from my OBE survey report that they have seen or felt the presence of an unknown physical being. Some refer to this presence as a spiritual guide, watcher, or helper. How we interpret this is based on our own individual beliefs and perceptions of reality. We frame our nonphysical adventures and contact with a being based on our individual mindset.

Here is an example from one of my workshop participants.

“I was asleep for the night and awoke to find two beings at the foot of my bed. I don’t think they were human, more like creatures or aliens. One was tall and thin, while the other was shorter and more rounded. The taller one said ‘Let’s go’ and waved for me to follow him. I wasn’t afraid, but I didn’t want to go, so I tried to shake my head no. They must have read my thoughts, because they seemed to get the message and they left.”

We do not possess eyes when out of body, we perceive our surroundings with our mind. And it is our mind that creates a comfortable facsimile to the physical form that we are accustomed to meeting.