|
 In
this new section of the newsletter,
Dr. P.M.H. Atwater
will answer questions submitted to her from subscribers to
this newsletter.
She is one of the original researchers in the field of
near-death studies, having begun her work in 1978. She is
one of the very few top NDE researchers who have actually
had a NDE. Her
website is filled with very interesting NDE research
information and articles of hers. Her contribution to
near-death studies is considered to be one of the most
important as her first two books,
Beyond the Light
and
Coming Back to Life,
are
deemed the Bibles of the near-death experience by
researchers and a multitude of experiencers and enthusiasts.
If you have a question that you would like her to
answer for this column, just email your question to Kevin
Williams at
http://www.near-death.com/contact.html for consideration.
Her
latest book entitled
The New Children and Near-Death Experiences
has now been released.
You can purchase a copy online at the Amazon link provided
here.
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 QUESTION:
I finally found myself in your book
Coming Back to Life. I have not had a
near-death experience, but nonetheless have an enlightenment story you
might be interested in.
In 2000, I
became sick and underwent a very taxing chemotherapy course.
As far as a time line, this began in November, but worsened
considerably early in the next year. I had always been a
disappointed former Christian. I had been very angry with
God for taking the lives of my baby son and my mother. I
raved at God.
Then,
amazingly, I began to have signs of psychic ability. I knew
what people were saying or doing when I wasn't in the same
room. Soon after I felt a totally compelling urge to search
spirituality. This was something I had never felt or done
before. I am still studying psychology, and I was getting my
degree in science.
A
non-spiritual person suddenly became different. I felt love
for everyone. I began sending money to charities. Although I
have a very good job as Manager of Operations for a
transportation company, I went back to finish school in
psychology; and my goal is to help others. I told my husband
that I would help those who could not pay, for free.
Everyone said that I glowed, and people are attracted to me,
as well as animals.
Last week I
faced a fear of spiders in my bathroom. I was readying
myself for work, and a black spider made its way across my
floor, then stayed perfectly still. I talked softly to it,
and bent to touch it, stroking its back lightly. Then, the
spider followed me everywhere I went until I had to leave
for work.
I don't
consider myself anything special at all, but I am a
changed person. Is this possibly an enlightenment? --
Debra |
 P.M.H.
Atwater's answer:
Your question, Debra, is so important, I've decided to carry your entire
e-mail. Thank you for giving me permission to do this.
According to
most mystical and spiritual traditions, what you went
through and are continuing to experience is called an
"awakening" - an awakening to the reality of spirit, the
reality of other worlds and other ways of living that are
better and more satisfying than what you experienced
previously. That need, that hunger for something more in
life, a greater reality, is instilled in all of us. It is
part of our core being, and is the key component to why
food, sex, gifts, power plays, accomplishments,
relationships, fail to provide that sense of completeness we
seek. True satisfaction, true peace, cannot be found in such
endeavors. And therein
lies the rub. When things
don't go right, when we feel victimized, hurt, betrayed,
confused, depressed, angry, or at odds with the world, we
rail against God, against life and the way it works, against
ourselves or others. Sooner or later, though, a moment comes
when we relax or let go or are somehow "distracted" enough
that our state of mind alters. Once this occurs, awakenings
pop up. Seldom dramatic but always uniquely special,
awakenings are moments when our perception expands. We see
more, hear more, feel more, sense more. We become fully
alive. We feel loved and loving - if only for a brief period
of time. The spiritual truth of life "visits" us and we
suddenly "know" things that once seemed beyond our knowing.
Our hearts expands, as well, to embrace all creatures, all
beings, all life. An awakening is a shift of perception that
introduces you to a greater reality and a better way of
living. Awakenings are
experiences of enlightenment in the sense that an "opening"
has occurred - you have slipped through an invisible portal
of the mind and heart and discovered summerland, the
existence of spirit. Back in the
sixties and early seventies I was very active exploring
altered states of consciousness and psychic phenomena. This
led me to found Idaho's first non-profit metaphysical
corporation called "Inner Forum" (which was later run by a
Board of Directors). Every month I produced an event of some
kind - talks, experiments, demonstrations, gatherings of
varied types - sometimes even twice a month. These
activities involved hundreds of people, eventually
thousands. I never did do anything "small" or half-hearted.
I wanted to know more about life, about human beings and
what we were capable of doing. Always, what was presented
was done in a non-judgmental, 360-degree-fashion, so all
sides of any given question or possibility could be examined
and explored. Those were heady times. Once I began
my research of the near-death phenomenon, I had this
previous work to draw on. I could compare near-death events
with awakenings and the process of enlightenment. I could
compare "before" with "after". . . what was common; what was
different. This font of information proved to be invaluable.
And it is what enabled me to recognize that the aftereffects
and how individuals were affected by them were very similar,
sometimes virtually the same, from any type of
transformative experience that encompassed the spiritual,
that unitive sense of belonging to a greater reality filled
with truth and love and joy. It just didn't matter how it
happened. What mattered was - that it happened! To be
healthy and whole, we need to open up to the spiritual. I no longer
consider the near-death phenomenon to be a separate or
unique anomaly, but, rather, one of many types of the larger
genre called "transformations of consciousness."
 I suspect that
the reason many near-death experiencers are so challenged by
the aftereffects is because of how the incident occurs -
suddenly and to a population that is unprepared, uninformed,
uninterested, and mostly unwilling. Transformations that
happen to those who are spiritually prepared, where some
sense of choice is present, are often easier to handle and
adjust to. Consider, too, that near-death cases come from
people of any age - including babies, toddlers, even
pre-born. And, that such cases often are medically monitored
in a hospital setting and can later be studied
scientifically. The near-death phenomenon, then, because its
aftereffects are so similar to the transformative process,
offers the modern world a way to examine the mystical realm
of spirit in a logical, objective fashion - searching for
evidence, some kind of proof that spirit even exists, that
we as human beings might indeed be capable of abilities and
awareness beyond what science has decreed. The spiritual
will not be denied. It is an integral part of what
constitutes our humanhood. We consist of and operate through
four levels or modes of existence: physical, emotional,
mental, and spiritual. Irrespective of belief, ours or
anyone else's, there is a God, an Allness, Isness, or
Oneness, The Source of All Being, that undergirds and
empowers Creation. This One Mind,
this Intelligence, does not behave or operate as we do, but
in larger more expansive manners. As has oft been said,
"What we consider a tragedy, The Master considers a
butterfly." Debra, this directly applies to your experience,
your anger at losing a son and a mother, your sense of
feeling betrayed and cheated; yet, suddenly, and without any
clear choice or decision on your part, feeling more loving
and charitable, more open, grateful, as if you had awakened
from the "sleepfulness" of living life unfulfilled and
unknowing. You are now more alive and vital, more
responsive, happier. Learn
everything you can about how to manage and control your new
psychic abilities, so they will have a positive and
enriching effect on your life. Learn everything you can
about spirituality and the mystical components to a healthy
and more satisfying way of living. Such study will lead you
to the power of meditation and prayer, and the grace of
forgiveness and joy. To update you
on my progress in dealing with a broken left wrist, I am
healing rapidly - which is amazing my doctor and therapist.
I fell at the Pittsburgh airport October 27th trying to
catch my flight (I missed it). My left wrist was broken in a
complicated way that necessitated surgery and the insertion
of a steel plate. Surgery was November 7th - 2 hours, but 3
hours in recovery. I guess they had trouble "bringing me
back." There were many other injuries, but they were minor
to the break. One week after the surgery I could grasp, had
nearly full use of all fingers, and could move my arm in a
fashion that surprised everyone. What accounts for this? All
your prayers for me, the power of positive thinking, and
that incredible orgone blanket I have that I wrapped my arm
in daily. If you want to know more about orgone blankets, be
certain to visit my website and specifically that section in
The Marketplace
that talks about them and how to have one made for you.
ADDENDUM:
On October 27, 2003,
while hurrying to catch her connecting flight at the
Pittsburgh Airport, PMH took a nasty fall. She broke her
left wrist, dislocated the hand from the arm, injured four
teeth, and sustained numerous other injuries. It wasn't
until November 7th that surgery could be performed and a
steel plate inserted. According to the hand surgeon, Dr.
Michael Devine, "It was a complicated break, the kind I
seldom see or hear about." The surgery lasted two hours but
it took doctors three hours to bring her back from the
anesthesia.
Steff, the
webmaster for her website, literally took over for awhile,
as PMH was unable to do much in the way of e-mail or
writing, prayer sessions or readings, travel or talk shows.
Almost everything ground to a halt. As of December 19th, six
weeks after the surgery, more x-rays were taken. The result:
full, complete healing of the bone, straight alignment
between hand and arm, with no evidence (other than the steel
plate) that the bone was ever broken!!!!!!!!! PMH is back in
business. Yes, there's more healing to do, range of motion
to increase, and the challenge with her teeth, but all in
all what we have here is a miracle!
The doctor kept
saying, "This is extraordinary, unbelievable, perfect. You
see rapid healing like this with children and young people,
but almost never with a woman who is 66 years old.
Extraordinary!" To say PMH is elated would be an
understatement.
PMH Atwater: To all of you out there who prayed
for me, thank you, thank you, thank you! I am living proof
of the power of prayer. Prayer works miracles, maybe not our
way but always the best way, that way that honors what is
for the highest good of all concerned. Please keep those
prayers going. On January 7th I find out about my teeth. My
grandson, who was also injured the same day I was and in a
similar manner, is remarkably recovered, although his mother
still suffers from the accident she was in. I know many are
hurting now, not just in our family. That is why I have
included a section in The Marketplace on Steve Anderson, a
most incredible healer, and on the Orgone Blankets made by
Philip Knopp (I used ours for pain control and it worked
better than anything else I tried).
I wish in my
Update that I recently sent out, that I had mentioned the
three healers who made the most important difference in my
own case. Primary is Dr. William G. Reimer. He is of
advanced age now and seldom takes on new patients. He is the
one who saved my life in 1977 when I died three times, and
he has since been ever at my side, as he puts it: "To make
certain you live long enough to get your work done." Bill is
the finest healer I have ever met, and I feel privileged to
know him. The other two are holistic/spiritual healers, also
among the best I have ever known. They are: Ellen Louise
Kahne and Steve Anderson. Since they are both still active
in the healing arts, I will do my best to let others know
about them. Steve is already in The Marketplace on my
website. I hope Ellen will soon be, too.People call
what happened to me a miracle. And it was. Yet because of
what happened to me I now have a different appreciation of
miracles. Certainly, a number of aspects were in place that
led up to my healing. A lot of people were praying for me; I
was often in prayer; my attitude was very positive and
upbeat - even when I was in pain; the three healers I
mentioned above were busy doing what they could; I had a
wonderful surgeon and hand therapist; I exercised my arm and
hand as often as I could each day; I had the support of a
loving husband; and I ate right. We all know
aspects like these can lead to healing miracles. Still,
something quite different from all of this is what I believe
made the biggest difference in my case. I SLIPPED INTO JOY!
Just that. I didn't decide anything, nor did I move in
consciousness. I slipped, glided, really, into pure joy and
I remained there and I'm still there. Almost immediately
after impact, after blood spilled all over, after I screamed
"Oh, No" when I saw my deformed left hand and arm - almost
immediately I slipped into a sense, a feeling, a reality of
pure joy that simply took over. I became joy and joy became
me. The pain spikes came. Sometimes I was almost delirious
with the pain. Language escaped me. All I could say was
simple disconnected words, when I could remember what things
were called. There were moments when the thoughts came that
I might lose the teeth that were injured, that I could never
write again or travel again or give talks again or share
again or ... Still, there was that joy, sparkling all over
my nose and in my eyes and up and down my body and in and
out the injury and sometimes tickling my ears. There it was.
. . joy! And it wouldn't leave me alone. I embraced the gift
that was mine from the experience, what I could learn from
it, but the joy. How can I describe that?
 I knew, just
knew, that at each and every moment all was well. It didn't
matter if I was injured or deformed or would ever write
again. I was absolutely okay and all was well. Each second I
was exactly where I needed to be doing exactly what I needed
to be doing. I was joy and joy was me, and there was
laughter. Laughter! And everything I needed "appeared" or
came to me or I was led to ask for it at the right time in
the right way. There was Bill and Ellen and Steve and a host
of others, and they were my angels and I am so grateful to
know them and to have benefited from their loving care.
Overlaying this, always, was that joy, and still is.
Time and space
have altered for me now. I have always "been" joyful. Now I
am joy. And in my joy I feel a sense of power I have never
felt before. I am sharing this with you because you are my
friends and because you are open to hearing about this
experience. Maybe you, too, have experienced the same thing,
or have an idea about it. In the sense of sharing, thank you
for listening. And thank you for being the joy you are, what
we all are. Maybe that's what God is ... JOY!
Happy Holidays to everyone.
2004 will be a tumultuous year for
good or ill. Focus on joy and be surprised!Many blessings,
P. M. H. Atwater, L.H.D., Ph.D.
www.cinemind.com/atwater
& www.pmhatwater.com |
