Parallel Lives in Comas and NDEs: Is This Proof of The Afterlife?
Have you ever awoken from a dream so seemingly real that you regret waking up, or maybe even question reality? One of those reveries that stays with you the rest of the day or for weeks to come? A dream that leaves you in a state of ineffable nostalgia?
But what if that dream was so realistic it put you into a state of depression, questioning whether it was more real than this reality? Such is often the case for people who live another lifetime while in a coma when knocked unconscious, or during a near-death experience (NDE), who come back believing they’ve found proof of an afterlife or another reality beyond.
These NDEs can add a layer of confusion to the existential questions of life – why we’re here, how we got here, and what happens when we die – or in some cases, it can add a layer of clarity.
The topic has become subject matter for massively popular books, movies, and shows, though academics debate the validity of such experiences, writing them off as anesthesia hallucinations or the product of an intense, prolonged dream. But often the subjective and convincing nature of these experiences forces disbelievers to question what they once thought was sacrosanct.
And it is within these stories that we begin to question the foundations of our own conscious reality.
Concussions and Strange Coma Stories
There is a popular story circulated on Reddit of a college student’s experience while knocked unconscious. And while it’s difficult to verify the story’s authenticity, there is a multitude of anecdotes in response from people who have experienced similar phenomena while in an unconscious state.
Often these accounts result in bizarre time distortions for the experiencer, in which years pass when in reality they were unconscious for only a few minutes. This same time dilation can happen under anesthesia, in dreams, and during intense psychedelic trips, leaving the subject confused upon resuscitation, questioning the meaning of reality and time itself.
This phenomenon is usually explained as our mind filling in the narrative of a dream with memories that seem to have been living. But this Reddit user’s experience titled, A Parallel Life / Awoken By A Lamp, recounts his experience living out a decade of another life, including the birth and upbringing of two children.
You can find the full story (here), but for an abridged version read on…
The Reddit user said that during his last semester at college, he was knocked out by a football player three times his weight. While unconscious he met a woman, was happily married, and experienced the birth of two children. Every day he walked into his children’s rooms and spent time with them before leaving for work. He had a great job, a beautiful relationship with his wife, and detailed emotional memories connecting him to this family.
But one day he noticed that a lamp in his house looked strange – it was inverted and just looked off. He spent the following days on the couch, staring at the lamp, trying to figure out why it looked the way it did. He stopped eating, drinking, and even using the bathroom. His wife grew worried and brought someone to the house to talk to him, before taking the kids to her mother’s house because she was so upset. Then he realized the lamp was not real, nor was the house, the wife, or the kids either. All of a sudden, he woke up to voices, screams, and a police officer picking him up and putting him in his car to go to the hospital.
Mere minutes had passed, but in his unconscious state, an entire decade of life ensued. He spent the next several years in a state of depression, trying to cope with the loss of a family he believed to be real, and a reality remarkably less pleasant than the one he believed he had lived.
Watch this episode of Open Minds with Raymond Moody the psychologist who coined the term “Near Death Experience:”
Coma Patients’ Stories
The aforementioned story might be described in medical terms as confabulation; a disturbance of memory, defined as the creation of fabricated, distorted, or misinterpreted memories about oneself or the world, without the conscious intention to deceive.
It’s a pretty basic definition through a materialist lens, but it doesn’t necessarily explain why these experiences have such a profound impact on someone’s grasp of reality, and why the emotional fallout can be so heavy. Is it because it often stems from one’s deep-seated desires or projections of the person they want to be in life? Or could they be memories of a past life?
A similar scenario played out with an Englishman named Alpha Kabeja. Kabeja was riding his bike through London one day when he was suddenly struck by a van with enough force to knock his brain out of place in his skull. He spent three weeks in a medically induced coma, before coming back with confabulated memories.
Kabeja came to, under the impression he had been on his way home from a successful interview where he was offered a job as the assistant to the director of operations at MI5 – England’s secret service agency. He also believed his wife was expecting twins, named Sky and Nikita. He believed he kept a picture of her ultrasound in a book and took pictures of her with a pregnant belly. He also remembered that before he came out of his coma, he had been Skyping with her while she was on vacation in France.
Kabeja remembered these details as vividly as childhood memories, despite the fact they were fabricated. Doctors said his brain pieced them together based on other things going on his life, prior to the accident. For example, friends of his were expecting twins, and he wanted to start a new career in a government role. Essentially, his brain connected memories with subconscious desires or projections from his life before the accident; at least that’s the explanation doctors provided.
The Western vs. Eastern Perspective
The work of Stanislav Grof regarding non-ordinary states of consciousness and NDEs is likely the most relevant to the mystery behind these experiences. Aside from his studies with NDEs, Grof’s research involves non-ordinary states of consciousness derived from ecstatic, mystical, and psychedelic experiences, of which every culture outside of the Western world regularly and intentionally evokes.
These parallel lives are considered to be much more important and profound than mere hallucinations or dreams when viewed through the lens of a culture with a rich history in mysticism, shamanism or mythology.
Grof considers them a connection to Carl Jung’s collective unconscious; the universal psyche of which our intellects are a tiny fragment. Addressing the technologically focused, materialist worldview, Grof compares these brain states to a computer, in much the same way science sees our brain.
“If you damage a computer all you’re going to get is a jangled program, you’re not going to get another strange, comprehensive program. So, the idea that some kind of pathological process influences the brain and makes you identify with the dancing Shiva and suddenly you will understand everything there is to know about that aspect of Hinduism – it’s just not a very scientific, believable way of thinking.” — Stanislav Grof
Instead, Grof believes these non-ordinary states of consciousness are transpersonal experiences; transcending spatial boundaries, identity, and what Alan Watts called the “skin-encapsulated ego.”
He says that with non-ordinary states, time becomes distorted. One can pull the past into the present moment, bringing historical events into the now, or relive experiences from a past life. In our waking ordinary consciousness, all we can experience is the present moment based on our mundane sensory perception, but with cultures that tap into these ecstatic states, one can transcend time and space like flipping over the television channel.
Could this be the case with other lives experienced during a coma and other states of unconsciousness? For more insight, listen to Stanislav Grof’s Conscious States of Dying:
About the Author
5 Signs That a Deceased Loved One Is With You
Are there times when you feel that someone who has passed away is still close to you? The presence of a deceased loved one can be felt in a real way through subtle signs, emotional sensations or physical manifestations. In this article we explore how to know if the spirit of a family member is with you, what types of signs may appear, and why you shouldn’t ignore them.
Table of Contents
- Spiritual Signs That a Deceased Loved One Is Nearby
- How to Interpret Messages From the Spiritual World?
- What to Do When You Feel the Presence of a Deceased Loved One?
- When Does a Departed Soul Want to Give You a Message?
- Is It Possible to Contact a Deceased Loved One?
- Intuition as a Channel to Receive Messages From the Beyond
Spiritual Signs That a Deceased Loved One Is Nearby
Although we can no longer see or hear them as before, the emotional links with our deceased loved ones remain active at an energetic and spiritual level. It is common that their presence is manifested through signs that, if we learn to recognize them, can bring comfort and confirm that they are still close, accompanying our processes and taking care of us from another dimension.
These signs are not always obvious. That is why it is important to pay attention to the small details of everyday life, especially if you are going through an emotionally significant stage or feel that someone who has passed away needs to give you a message. Here are some of the most frequent manifestations so you can understand how to tell if a deceased loved one is with you.
- Vivid dreams and dream messages: One of the most frequent ways deceased loved ones communicate is through the dream world. These dreams are not only intensely real, but also emotionally meaningful: you can see their faces clearly, feel their energy, and remember precisely what they conveyed to you. It is not a simple evocation of memory, but a spiritual encounter that often has a clear purpose: to comfort you, to guide you, or to convey a message you need to hear.
- Interference or electrical phenomena: Spirits have the ability to interact with energy fields, so their presence is often manifested by lights that flicker, appliances that turn on by themselves, or radios that play songs with personal meaning. If something like this happens just when you think of that person, it’s probably not a coincidence.
- Aromas that evoke specific memories: Sometimes, for no apparent reason, you may perceive a smell that immediately transports you to the presence of someone who is no longer physically present. Your mother’s distinctive perfume, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee that your grandfather used to make, or the smell of flowers given to you by a loved one may appear suddenly and without logical explanation. These sensory experiences are one of the most direct and recognizable ways in which spirits make their closeness felt.
- Presence of symbols, animals or repetitive elements: Deceased loved ones often use elements loaded with meaning to send you signals. It can be butterflies, feathers, coins, songs or numbers that are repeated frequently. If these symbols appear insistently in emotional moments or when you think of that person, it is very likely that they are trying to establish a connection from the spiritual plane.
- Subtle but obvious physical sensations: Some people report feeling a gentle caress, a sudden shiver, a light pressure on the shoulder, or the distinct sensation that someone is beside them, even though no one is present. These manifestations usually occur when someone deceased needs to give you a message or simply wants to make you feel their company.
How to Interpret Messages From the Spiritual World?
Signs from the spiritual world do not always manifest themselves in a direct or obvious way. It is not a matter of looking for a literal message, but of observing how these symbols present themselves and what connection they have with your emotional and spiritual life. Each person has a different sensitivity, so it is important to develop a more conscious perception of what you feel when these signs appear.
A good way to interpret these messages is to pay attention to what is going on inside you at the moment you perceive the sign. Does it generate peace, excitement, nostalgia or clarity? The emotional charge that accompanies a signal can be as relevant as the event itself. It’s not just about what you see or hear, but what that experience awakens internally, and how it relates to your personal process.
It is also important to note repetition. When a signal occurs more than once, in different contexts, it is probably not a coincidence. Sometimes messages are not immediately understood, but reveal themselves over time. Keeping an open attitude, without forcing interpretations, allows you to connect more authentically with what the spiritual world is trying to show you.
What to Do When You Feel the Presence of a Deceased Loved One?
Feeling the presence of a deceased loved one is a real and meaningful experience that can generate different emotions, from peace and comfort to bewilderment or uncertainty. Far from being something that should frighten you, it is a manifestation of the bond that continues to exist beyond the physical plane. Acknowledging that closeness with openness and calmness allows the experience to integrate naturally into your life, without fear or confusion.
You can speak out loud or in your mind, express what you feel, thank them for their closeness or simply send thoughts of love. You don’t need to do complex rituals: a sincere gesture of emotional connection already creates a bridge between your energy and theirs. This inner communication is as valid as any other form of spiritual contact.
It is also helpful to keep a record of these moments. Writing down what you felt, when it happened, if there were any physical or emotional signs, can help you identify patterns and better understand the purpose of the presence. Over time, these experiences can become a valuable guide for your personal and spiritual process.
When Does a Departed Soul Want to Give You a Message?
There are specific times when deceased loved ones try to communicate more clearly. This often occurs when you are going through a major change, facing a major decision or in need of emotional support. In such cases, the signals may intensify and become more obvious, as if something is insisting on getting your attention.
It can also happen that the message arrives shortly after the death, when the emotional bond is still very active. In that period, it is common to receive unexpected dreams, symbols or emotions that bring a sense of direct connection. The message is not always verbal or specific; sometimes it is simply the certainty that they are well, that they are still present or that they are accompanying you on your journey.
It is important not to force the message to be received. Although many people wonder how to know if a deceased person wants to tell you something, the answer does not always come immediately. Maintaining a receptive attitude, but without anxiety, is the best way to facilitate communication. If the message needs to get through, it will do so at the right time and in the clearest way for you.
Is It Possible to Contact a Deceased Loved One?
There are different ways to contact a deceased loved one. Some people manage to establish this type of connection spontaneously, through dreams, signs or sensations that arise at specific moments. In other cases, they resort to more structured practices such as deep meditation, intuitive writing or symbolic rituals that favor the energetic link with the spiritual plane.
One of the best known ways to contact deceased persons is mediumship. Mediums are people with the ability to perceive subtle energies and act as a channel of communication between this plane and the spiritual world. Through specific sessions, they can transmit messages, emotions or images from loved ones who are no longer physically present, providing guidance or comfort to those who consult them.
There are also other tools such as the use of oracle cards, working with pendulums or connecting with spiritual guides who act as intermediaries. Although each experience is unique, the key element is always emotional openness and the sincere intention to establish that contact. It is not about forcing communication, but allowing it to occur naturally and respectfully.
In the series Channeling: A Bridge to the Beyond, available on Gaia, various experts and channelers explore how it is possible to connect with unseen dimensions and receive messages from higher consciousness. Through real experiences, quantum theories and spiritual practices, this series offers an in-depth look at methods for contacting the beyond and better understanding the link between worlds.
Intuition as a Channel to Receive Messages From the Beyond
Intuition is one of the most powerful tools for perceiving messages from the spiritual world. It is that inner knowledge that arises without logical reasoning, but with a clear and profound certainty. Many times, when a deceased loved one tries to communicate, intuition is the first to pick up that signal: a sudden idea, a phrase that comes to mind or an unexplained physical sensation.
Learning to trust this subtle perception is fundamental to strengthen the link with the spiritual plane. Intuition does not need concrete proof to be valid, because it manifests as an inner truth that is simply known. Often, the most intuitive people perceive signs even before they materialize physically, proving that communication with the beyond is not always visible, but perceptible.
Cultivating intuition is a process that can be developed with practice and mindfulness. Meditation, inner silence, connecting with nature and recording personal experiences are effective ways to strengthen this channel. The more you learn to listen to your inner voice, the easier it will be to recognize when a message is coming from your own mind and when it is coming from another dimension.
