Life After a Transformation of Consciousness

QUESTION

"I experienced a spontaneous Kundalini Awakening (KA) some years ago. I understand through reading and attendance at International Kundalini Conferences, that KA and NDE have some similarities, re: physical, emotional, spiritual, etc., shifts. While with time there is certainly some adjustments being back here in physical form/physical world, have you experienced or heard from others that they never completely adjust? One aspect of my KA was the experience of unification with Source, The One, All, whatever name one is comfortable with. . . during these experiences all there was, was love: pure, all-encompassing, nothing other than love. These experiences were definitely expanding. This awareness of connection with Source is with me all the time, such a gift, and can bring me to my knees with tears of joy when silent and focusing on this connection. However, this experience also makes it, for lack of better words, painful to be back here on the earthplane, where much is other than love/connection.

"The result is I spend quite a bit of time in solitude, preferring this over much of the outside world that I don't resonate with, and perhaps experience a persistent, low-level depression as I yearn to be back with Source. I do know/understand that we are not to hasten our return to Source, re: if I'm here, I'm meant to be here; yet a big part of me doesn't feel like being here. To find support, kindred souls I've attended various meditation groups, yet found the 'energy healing, etc.' so many have begun to do, unsettling. I've also attended non mainstream churches and had difficulty with the ending of the celebration being holding hands in a circle and singing, followed by everyone embracing/hugging others. I'm energy sensitive and such contact with numerous others can throw my system off. I've tried to excuse myself from these portions of meditation or church gatherings, but then have to encounter individuals approaching me asking questions as to my non-participation, followed by their suggestions, offers to 'heal' my energies, etc. After my KA, my partner left me and friendship ended. This path does seem to be lonely. Any thoughts?"....Mary

ANSWER

There are similarities. Please read my book Near-Death Experiences: The Rest of The Story. I establish in that book that near-death experiences are not a separate type of anomaly, but, rather, part of the larger genre of transformations of consciousness. Then I go on to show what transformations of consciousness are (and that includes Kundalini breakthroughs), why we have them, what they're for, and where they lead us. Because I reveal the full extent of my research, the book has been challenged, rejected by some who just cannot spread their vision beyond established protocol, to see patterns, relationships, and commonalities.

I've written a lot about aftereffects, really in most of my books. You might enjoy Future Memory in that regard, for, along with the larger topic of the book, I also share some of what I went through. By the way, I had a full Kundalini breakthrough in the late sixties, two more smaller ones (less intense) that followed, until, once over, I was so different I could no longer "fit" anywhere. Fortunately for me, I was able to become active in the A.R.E. (Edgar Cayce home study groups) and various other esoteric and mystical studies, exercises, classes. These sources of learning and experience made a significant difference in how I was able to integrate those breakthroughs. No, there wasn't any "place" for me to go, so I created that by founding Idaho's first non-profit metaphysical corporation called Inner Forum. Through Inner Form, I established a very active and large group, brought in speakers, had a monthly newsletter, classes, all kinds of activities and groups, all aimed at offering people a safe place where they could come together of a like-mind and explore what was real, not hype or nonsense. Inner Form ran for a total of seven years. I withdrew after six. That's because I died, three times in three months in 1977. I call what happened to me the "heavenly sledge-hammer effect."

If other groups/people/offerings bother you, you may find that you are better suited for ashrams or Quaker Villages or places more attuned to silence, meditation, and flowing more into heart issues. Any given place or people will only bother you if you let them. There's always something to be gained, even if you can stay for only a single class or a certain period of time. You can gain something. Each adds upon itself until you reach a point where life is so much more enjoyable, you are able to be comfortable almost anywhere. Of course it helps to find groups of like-minded individuals - for me that was the International Association for Near-Death Studies (you can go to their activities without having had an NDE). It was also Unity Churches and Science of Mind (Church of Religious Science), and others. There's always people you can flow with, or should I say flow into. I was also gifted by finding my twin soul (or I should say, he found me), and marrying him. That was over 33 years ago. I can honestly say the marriage gets better every year. We met at a Zen meditation meeting. Yes, Zen brought us together. Hey, you never know.

Don't close any doors for yourself. Learn what you can at each place with each individual, and then walk on. You get stronger doing that and life gets easier and more comfortable. You can transfer that longing to "go home" to the joy of touch, sound, sight, feeling, taste. By moving more into who you really are, you automatically meld into the moment and enjoy more. It's you, dear one, and what you determine yourself to be. Remember, you are a Child of God, a co-creator with the Creator, and you have a job to do - otherwise you wouldn't be here.

Many blessings, PMH

NDE'r: "Please help me get my life back"

QUESTION:

"I have come to you seeking help. Up until a few days ago, I was a profound believer in NDEs. Even though I have never experienced one myself, I followed it's well-known paradigim. I based my entire life on it, and I certainly do not regret it. It gave me the strength I needed to achieve so much of my dreams, and helped me enjoy life to the fullest. But a couple of days ago, I was sitting down on the balcony observing the beautiful sky, when a thought crossed my mind. 'Can this be true? Is life really that beautiful? Or is it all just wishful thinking?' Ever since then I do not know what happened to me. I simply stopped believing in NDEs. Everytime I look back at it, it seems like it's too good to be true. Everytime I try to believe again, a voice inside my head keeps telling me 'don't delude yourself...something so good cannot be true.'

"I do not know what to believe anymore. There are so many things people are claiming to be true which are not. And the other way around as well. I do not know what I should believe anymore. I look at all those people not believing in NDEs, and I ask myself 'why?' If it is true, why don't people believe in it?

Also, I was reading your Q&A blog, and the latest question kind of upset me. The thing about the Tom Sawyer guy. In some NDEs I read that it is not our choice whether to stay there or not. Yet in some, people are asked if they want to or not. Now, in most of these, they say they want to stay, but they are asked to think it over, until they choose to come back. And that isn't different from it not being our choice, just a gentler way to tell us it's not our time, I guess. I couldn't find the NDE of Tom Sawyer so I thought I should ask you. Did he say he wanted to stay, and the beings agreed for him to stay? And yet still he came back? If that is so, doesn't that imply in a sense that NDEs are just a dream of some sort? Or did he say he wanted to stay and before anything happened, he came back? Or was he told that he will go back anyways?

"Sorry if I sounded too skeptical, Dr. Atwater. Personally I am amazed by NDEs, and maybe with your help I can believe in them again. I feel like I'm running out of strength without the belief of NDEs in my life. I look at my life right now, and I feel as if I'm looking with the eyes of a stranger. My friends, my beliefs and my dreams...Please help me get my life back."
... Robert


ANSWER:

Near-death experiences are nothing to "believe in." They are fact. They happen, and to millions and millions of people worldwide and of every age. They are not always pleasant. Some are nightmarish and haunt people; some are enlightening and uplift people; some challenge people and inspire them to look beyond what they think life is. Since we humans see barely 10% of the electromagnetic spectrum, it is of no reach to claim that experiences like this enable one to access more of what is already present in the world around us and has always been present. It's just that we didn't have the ability to look beyond the view before we were jerked around or challenged by this type of incredible phenomenon.

Please know the near-death experience, really, is just one of many types of transformative experiences that engender either the same or similar aftereffects. Those aftereffects move us closer to spirituality, to a walk with God or Deity, if you will. It is the aftereffects which validate the near-death experience or any type of impactual spiritual experience, not the other way around.

What climbed into your mind recently was your own ego, and your ego planted doubt. That's the ego's job, by the way, to keep you in the limited world of the left-brain hemisphere. Since we have two brain hemispheres, not one, it makes no sense to limit the input we receive. A healthy person is a whole person - whole brained. The world of the ego is important and meaningful. The world of the spirit is also important and meaningful. When you merge them or allow them to blend and work together, well, that's when things get really good - logic and intuition as one. I can't think of anything better - and that's exactly what Albert Einstein said - and look what he did with that combination!!!!!!!!!!! The world has never been the same since.

There are various ways to control one's ego and keep it in check. There are exercises and disciplines which are good for this. I recommend places, people, and books in the back of each book I've written. My favorite for this, though, is the teachings of Ernest Holmes and his book "Science of Mind." Good stuff. You might look into this, if it appeals to you. A good laugh will spin your ego around, since the ego has no sense of humor. Laughter, prayer, meditation, contemplation, poetry, dance, creativity - give your right-brain a chance.

What should you believe in? If you're wise, the God Within.
Many blessings, PMH

(Google Tom Sawyer. There have been several books written about him. He died not long ago, leaving behind not only his family but the effect he had on the thousands of people he helped, taught, and uplifted. The man lived unconditional love!!!!)

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

"Beginner's Guide to Conscious Dying: The Path to Soul Healing, Peace of Mind, & Unconditional Love," by Diane Goble, MSCC, CCHt, is now available. Diane is a near-death experiencer. She came back to do this work, to help people die consciously and peacefully, ready for whatever might happen next - after they cross over to the "other side."

What makes this small volume so perfectly precious is Diane's ability to see through the veil and help people in a very personal way, specific to their own needs and wishes. Diane has a relationship to this day with spiritual beings, some she met in death years ago when she herself died and then came back, others around all of us - spiritual helpers of every sort. Those who have passed over sometimes return in spirit to be with her, some you may know aided her in writing this book - like Juliet Nightingale. There is an appendices for the type of practical/legal information you need when a loved one dies, plus a good bibliography.

This book is readily available. Should you have any problems finding it on store shelves or via Amazon.com, you can contact her several ways:

• e-mail, cosmiccreativity@mac.com
• postal, 14774 Bluegrass Loop, Sisters, OR 97759, or
• P. O. Box 3352, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
• on the web at: www.ArtOfConsciousDying.com www.TransitionGuideTraining.org www.BeyondtheVeil.net