Have you ever wondered what happens in those precious moments between life and death? What do people actually see when they cross over to the other side? As a psychic medium who’s been connecting with thousands of spirits, I get asked this question more than any other.
The truth is, we have more answers than you might think. Researchers have been studying near-death experiences (NDEs) for years, and what they’ve discovered will absolutely amaze you. While the title mentions 15,000+ people, the actual research involves smaller but incredibly detailed studies that paint a clear picture of what awaits us all.
What the Research Really Shows
Let me be completely honest with you here. The largest scientific study on NDEs, called the AWARE study, followed 2,060 cardiac arrest patients across 15 hospitals in the UK, US, and Austria. Another groundbreaking study by cardiologist Pim van Lommel tracked 344 cardiac arrest survivors. These aren’t massive numbers, but the findings? They’re absolutely life-changing.
Here’s what blew my mind: 9-18% of cardiac arrest survivors report near-death experiences. That means nearly one in five people who technically “die” and come back have memories of what happened while they were gone.
But here’s where it gets really interesting. Of those who reported awareness during cardiac arrest:
- 56% described overwhelming peace, well-being, and pure bliss
- 39% had some level of awareness during the experience
- 9% had full classical near-death experiences
- 2% experienced complete out-of-body awareness with detailed memories
The Most Common Things People See and Feel
In my years of connecting with spirits and speaking with NDE survivors, I’ve noticed remarkable consistency in what people experience. Let me share what comes up again and again:
The Tunnel of Light
Nearly everyone talks about moving through some kind of tunnel toward an incredibly bright, warm light. But this isn’t just any light , it’s described as pure love, acceptance, and peace all rolled into one. One client of mine said, “Matt, it was like being wrapped in the most beautiful blanket of love I’d ever felt.”
Meeting Deceased Loved Ones
This one always brings tears to my eyes. So many people tell me they were greeted by family members, friends, or even beloved pets who had passed before them. These spirits appear younger, healthier, and radiating pure joy. A woman I know saw her grandmother, who looked exactly as she did in her thirties, standing in a garden that smelled like her famous apple pie.
Life Reviews
Here’s something fascinating – many people experience a complete review of their life, not as judgment, but with incredible compassion and understanding. They see how their actions affected others, both positively and negatively, but always from a place of love rather than condemnation.
Feelings of Universal Connection
People consistently report feeling connected to everything and everyone in the universe. They understand that we’re all part of something much bigger than ourselves. The love they feel isn’t just personal, it’s universal, unconditional, and infinite.
What Happens to Those Who Don’t Have “Positive” Experiences?
Now, I need to address something important that the research revealed. Not all near-death experiences are filled with light and love. About 46% of people who had awareness during cardiac arrest reported experiences that weren’t typical NDEs – and some were actually fearful or distressing.
This doesn’t scare me, and it shouldn’t scare you either. As someone who communicates with spirits daily, I know that our state of consciousness when we pass affects our initial experience. Fear, guilt, or unresolved trauma can create temporary confusion or distress.
But here’s what I want you to know: these challenging experiences aren’t permanent. The spirit world is filled with guides and helpers whose only job is to bring souls home to love and peace. Even those who initially struggle are eventually guided to the light.
The Science That Supports What I See Every Day
One of the most incredible findings from the research validates what I experience in my readings every single day. In the AWARE study, researchers documented cases where people had detailed awareness during the time when their hearts had stopped beating – something that should be medically impossible.
One person accurately described events that happened during the three-minute period when their heart wasn’t functioning. They saw and heard everything that was happening in the room, even though their brain should have shut down within 20-30 seconds of cardiac arrest.
This gives me chills because it’s exactly what spirits tell me during readings. They often share specific details about their passing that only someone who was consciously aware could know. Your loved ones really are still conscious, still aware, and still very much themselves after death.
Why These Stories Matter for Your Healing
If you’ve lost someone you love, these near-death experience accounts offer incredible comfort. They show us that death isn’t an ending – it’s a transition. Your person isn’t gone; they’ve simply moved to a different state of being.
The consistency of these experiences across different cultures, religions, and backgrounds tells us something profound: we’re all going to the same place of love and peace. Death isn’t something to fear but instead it’s a return to our spiritual home.
I’ve had the privilege of connecting thousands of families with their loved ones in spirit, and I can tell you with absolute certainty that the people who’ve crossed over are at peace. They want you to know they’re okay, they’re still with you, and they’re waiting for that beautiful reunion day when you’ll be together again.
What This Means for How You Live Today
Understanding what happens when we cross over should change how we live right now. Knowing that love is what matters most, that we’re all connected, and that death is just a doorway should free us from so many of our fears and worries.
Your loved ones in spirit consistently tell me they want you to:
- Stop worrying about things that don’t really matter
- Love deeply and forgive freely
- Trust that you’re exactly where you need to be
- Know that they’re still part of your life story
The research on near-death experiences confirms what I’ve always known through my spiritual work: consciousness continues after physical death, love is eternal, and we’re all going home to a place of incredible peace and joy.
A Message of Hope
If you’re grieving, please know that your loved one’s journey didn’t end with their last breath. Based on everything we know from NDE research and my own communications with spirits, they experienced the most beautiful transition imaginable. They were welcomed with love, they’re at peace, and they’re still very much part of your life.
Death isn’t the enemy we’ve been taught to fear. It’s actually the most beautiful homecoming you can imagine. And while we’ll miss our loved ones terribly here on Earth, we can take comfort knowing they’re experiencing pure love and joy until we meet again.
The veil between worlds is much thinner than most people realize. Your loved ones are still with you, still watching over you, and still sending you love every single day.
If you’re looking for more insights into what happens after we pass or want to learn how to recognize signs from your loved ones, I encourage you to explore some of my books by clicking here .
Remember, love never dies – it just changes form.
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