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1. About Music Physiology
Once I attended a lecture by Dr. Stephen Halpern, the master of music and music physiology. He said something very interesting I will never forget. He said the entire human body is a receiver of sound vibrations. Our ears are not the only organ that is sensitive to sound vibrations. He stated how the chakras (the spiritual centers in the body which are the endocrine glands) are greatly influenced by sound vibrations. For example, our sexual organs (the lowest chakra) are more sensitive to low rhythmic beats. Our heads (the highest chakra) are more sensitive to higher beat-less vibrations. This may explain why music with a low rhythmic beat is so popular among young people with raging sexual hormones. The low rhythmic beat played an important role in the tribal rituals of early human cultures around the world. Spiritual enlightenment occurs when you spiritually activate the body’s chakras from the lowest to the highest using varying levels of vibration and music.
2. Introduction to NDE Music
According to Dr. Joel Funk, a professor of psychology at Plymouth State College in New Hampshire, about 50% of near-death experiencers hear music during their NDE. They describe this music mostly as “music with a beautiful, floating sound.” Dr. Funk played various kinds of music for 60 near-death experiencers and found that they identified New Age style synthesized music as nearest to what they had heard during their NDE. Dr. Funk comments, “Some people burst into tears when they recognize the music of their NDEs.”
Steve Roach of Tucson, Arizona, had an NDE after a bike crash and heard “the most intensely beautiful music you could ever imagine” and decided “to dedicate my life to re-creating the exact same sound.” The result is a record entitled “Structures from Silence.” Says Roach, “Many people contact me after hearing my recordings to tell me that they’ve heard the exact same music during their NDEs.” If you would like to buy Steve Roach’s music and other NDE music, visit Gilles Bedard’s NDE and Music Page is a near-death experiencer and has done some excellent research into the music of the NDE.
3. Summary of the Insights Concerning NDE Music
The universe was created using the tools of music, harmony, and balance. Everything is kept in place by the all pervading vibration of God. Near-death accounts provide many interesting descriptions of the music that is often heard in the spirit realms. Some of these descriptions are: transcendental, unearthly harmonic beauty, angelic, sublimely beautiful, exquisite harmonies, heavenly, a celestial choir of angels, a tone so sublimely perfect, joyous and beat-less melody, an orchestra of voices, the Music of the Spheres, hymns to God, mystical tones, harmonic perfection, music that transcends all thought, bells and wind chimes, celestial symphony, glorious tones and rhythms and melodies, complicated rhythms with unearthly tones, deeper and more profound than new age music, music that is experienced from within, and music that puts Bach to shame. In the spirit realm, gardens sing and colors can be heard. It is a realm where light and sound, color and geometrical patterns are all combined into a totality of harmonic perfection. This is music that is on a level that is beyond hearing. It comes from within the very core of your soul. It is like being on a universal wave length that envelops you totally. NDE music revelations show the great importance that music plays in the universe, in the spirit realms, our souls and God.
4. Dr. Dianne Morrissey’s NDE Musical Aftereffect
Dr. Dianne Morrissey was a clarinet player for a symphony and a self-proclaimed music snob. All she listened to was classical music and she would not tolerate being around anybody who didn’t. At one time in her life, she had no idea of who The Beatles were. That’s how narrow her musical tastes were. This all changed, of course, when she had an NDE. Dianne’s NDE changed her life so much that she can no longer listen to classical music. She states that the reason is because she can’t stand to remember the music snob she once was and how she used to judge. Since then, Dianne has never picked up the clarinet again to the total disbelievement of her friends. Now, she sees the beauty in all music. Dianne gave up her limited life of classical music and now writes and teaches people how to have out-of-body experiences. (Dr. Dianne Morrissey)
5. Notable NDE Music Experiences
a. Gilles Bedard
There exists some very interesting ideas concerning the music and sound heard during many NDEs. One experiencer, Gilles Bedard was so impressed by the music he heard in his NDE, that he devoted his life to recreating and researching the music he heard. Other experiencers, such as Steve Roach, have done the same. Mr. Roach has produced some very beautiful music that can only be described as transcendental. Listen to the NDE music recommended by Gilles Bedard on this YouTube playlist.
“Based on my experience, I would say that people usually have a romanticized view of the music heard during near-death experiences. That’s why most people think first of new age music, harp or soothing music. From the outside, it would seem like that, but the music experienced from within is deeper and more profound than that … When I heard Structures from Silence from Steve Roach, I recognized the sound I heard on the Other Side.” (Gilles Bedard)
b. Dr. Richard Eby
“Music surrounded me. It came from all directions. Its harmonic beauty unlike earthly vocal or instrumental sounds was totally undistorted. It flowed unobtrusively like a glassy river, quietly worshipful, excitingly edifying, and totally comforting. It provided a reassuring type of comfort much like a protective blanket that whispered peace and love. I had never sensed anything like it. Perhaps angelic would describe it. This music was sounding within my head, not from an eardrum. Obviously it was not airborne. Most unusual to me was the absence of any beat. Then I realized that without time this heavenly music could have no beat which is a measure of time! I was hearing harmonic perfection, undistorted by any interposed medium between me and its source, as heard mind-to-mind … The music around me suddenly seemed louder. I rushed to a nearby tree and grasped its trunk to my ear: it was singing. I lifted my right elbow to my head; it too emitted the same joyous, beatless melody. Excitedly I stopped to pick some flowers, and found them already in my hand. They too were playing the tune.” (Dr. Richard Eby)
c. Edgar Cayce
According to Edgar Cayce, in the beginning, God desired self-expression and desired companionship. Therefore, the cosmos and souls were projected. The cosmos was built with music, arithmetic, and geometry; harmony, system, and balance. The building blocks were the life essence. It was a power sent out from God, which by changing the length of its wave and the rate of its vibration became a pattern of differing forms, substance, and movement. This created the law of diversity which supplied endless designs for the pattern. God played on this law of diversity as a person plays on a piano, producing melodies and arranging them in a symphony. Each design carried within it the plan of its evolution, which was to be accomplished by change. This corresponds to the sound of a note struck on a piano. The sounds of several notes unite to make a chord; chords in turn become phrases; phrases become melodies; melodies intermingle and move back and forth, across and between and around each other, to make a symphony. The music ends as it began, leaving emptiness, but between the beginning and the finish there has been glorious beauty and a great experience. (Edgar Cayce)
d. Lynnclaire Dennis
“And then I heard the MUSIC. It was a tone so sublimely perfect that remembering it still brings me to tears. I knew then, and know now, that I was hearing the symphony of angels, the song of the universe, what some have called the Music of the Spheres. All thoughts melted in its melody and everything else ceased to be of any importance. I closed my eyes and began to dance, moving to the resonant vibration that coursed through my essence. The melody seemed to issue from a single point and was composed of one verse, a song whose mystical tone my entire being knew and sang. I bathed in its melody as utter joy filled my being, and as the sound washed over my spirit, I felt all confusion purged from my consciousness … I was once more in my magical gown, moving alone in harmony with the MUSIC. In that moment I chose to merge with that self and began to dance. Each step drew me closer to the Light … The MUSIC, the celestial symphony, continued to fill the air with a psalm of Oneness, played on unseen instruments of peace. (Lynnclaire Dennis)
e. Arthur Yensen
“Everything in the spirit world is kept in place by an all pervading Master-Vibration (God), which prevents aging. That’s why things don’t get dirty, or wear out, and why everything looks so bright and new. This is why heaven is eternal. Our thoughts in heaven are vibrations which are controlled by the Master-Vibration. It neutralizes all negative thoughts and lets you think only the good thoughts, such as love, freedom and happiness. After death people gravitate into homogeneous groups according to the rate of their soul’s vibrations much like throwing a small pebble into a threshing machine, it would go into the box because of its proper size and weight. We are sorted by the high or low vibrations of our soul. Everyone goes where they fit in! High vibrations indicate love and spiritual development, while low vibrations indicate debasement and evil. All one has to do is to love so unselfishly that their soul-vibrations rise high enough to fit into heaven.” (Arthur Yensen)
f. Robert Monroe
“Out-of-body realms are usually areas of intense experience where the dominant reality is that of light, sound, vibration, motion or emotion. For example, the soul may sense a powerful vibration or sound that causes them to be caught up in that energy. Sometimes these sounds or vibrations propel them at a great speed through a tunnel. They may experience the feeling of inner sounds or vibrations but not the experience of movement and acceleration. Often, such experiences involve hearing spiritual music or sounds, and can be quite ecstatic. These inner sounds along with inner lights can sometimes act as a means of transition between waking experience and some formed inner world. Sounds which occur during conscious transitions out of the body are usually very powerful, and may result in the obliteration of the body image. Some of the sounds which occur are of a spiritual or mystical nature rather than transitional sounds that carry the traveler to a different place. These “higher” spiritual sounds are of a heavenly nature and are ecstatic beyond description. Some sample sounds one may encounter are the sounds of a speeding train, a loud buzzing, a flute, or the sounds of nature like the roar of a waterfall. These sounds or vibrations are of such intensity that they seem to pass right through the body, overpowering the other senses.” (Robert Monroe)
g. Christian Andreason
“The colors that are in Heaven are more brilliant than the ones we have here on Earth. There are healing tones that play incredible music, which all together form one single sacred song.” (Christian Andreason)
“God is an essence of absolute Love, Light and beautiful sound. What I understood (in Christian practice) to be the WORD of God, is actually the SOUND or MUSIC of God. God is a great LIGHT-filled Being who sings all tones simultaneously and uses this method to bring all things into existence. He causes each Creation to resonate with one another in perfect harmony, once that Creation has aligned itself with the ways of Love. God uses his SOUND to create all things and give them life. He then extends his Light and helps that Creation to take form. All of us hold Light and Tones within.” (Christian Andreason)
“Music filled with strong flowing melodic lines, lush tones and positive lyrics can cause us to become filled with Light thus enhancing our ability to give and receive Love. Because God is actually part MUSIC, good positive music can greatly help us maintain a sense of connection and union with our eternal Spirit.” (Christian Andreason)
6. Miscellaneous NDE Music Experiences
“Just as the colors of the rainbow show the effects of the different vibrations of light, and the melodies on the piano show the effect of the different notes, so, too, does the entire universe contain various octaves, or rates of vibration. These universal harmonics comprise the different levels of existence.” (Jerry Gross)
“Then all around me almost as if I were one with them, were colors. More than are here on earth and a feeling of peace. I felt like I was surrounded by love, comfort and peace. I also heard music but not like we hear it here. It seemed as one with the colors.” (Kay M.)
“I was immediately embraced by an overwhelming sense of love and acceptance and was in a tunnel like space surrounded with indescribable colors and music. These were not colors or musical notes I’d ever heard before. There was no fear, just an unbelievable sense of love.” (Demi B.)
“Permeating the colors and patterns was sound, countless octaves of sound. It was as though the colors could be heard. It reminded me of bagpipes. Filling the entire region were the droning sounds. Octave upon octave of invigorating, vitalizing sound. It was very subtle, practically imperceptible but immense, it seemed to reach to infinity. Superimposed on this vast life-giving hum, was the melody, which was created by the individual sound of every living thing. Light and sound, color and geometrical patterns were all combined into a totality of harmonic perfection.” (John Star)
“The stars began to change shapes before my eyes. They began to dance and deliberately draw themselves into intricate designs and colors which I had never seen before. They moved and swayed to a kind of rhythm or music with a quality and beauty I had never heard and yet … remembered. A melody that humans could not possibly have composed, yet was so totally familiar and in complete harmony with the very core of my being. As if it were the rhythm of my existence, the reason for my being. The extravagance of imagery and coloration pulsed in splendid unison with the magnificent ensemble. I felt completely at peace, tranquilized by the vision and the melodic drone. I could have stayed in this place for eternity with this pulse of love and beauty beating throughout my soul. The love poured into me from all corners of the universe.” (Virginia Rivers)
“And so I followed Him into other buildings of this domain of thought. We entered a studio where music of a complexity I couldn’t begin to follow was being composed and performed. There were complicated rhythms, tones not on a scale I knew. ‘Why,’ I found myself thinking. ‘Bach is only the beginning!'” (Dr. George Ritchie)
“Immediately I was in a realm of such unbelievable beauty. There were all the colors of the rainbow and astounding music. I later thought of it, as a difference of such magnitude as exists between rap and Mozart and Mozart to this music. I was completely surrounded by absolute love and bliss.” (Helen E.)
“Everything began to become peaceful and a type of music without sound played that enveloped me totally – through every cell.” (Kurt Hilden)
“A soft music came from the depths of the black universe. At first it was far away and could hardly be perceived, but it got my interest. The sounds were nearing fast and became louder until they finally reached and permeated myself. Never before had I heard such a music. It was very rhythmic, melodic, and ethereal. Initially, I found the music rather strange. But the more the sounds and the rhythm permeated me, the more I became a part of the music and was merging with it. I started to move with the music. I was moving in a way I never before had been moving in accordance with music. I felt magnificent and this state could have been going on forever. I was one with the music and was dancing through the universe! This phase continued for a good while until the music slowly faded. It was as if the music had only been localized in a certain layer, and now I was leaving this sphere by moving further up.” (Beatrice W.)
“The light was golden and bright and I could hear this music that is totally indescribable. It permeated the air – came from everywhere and nowhere – and is unlike any music I’ve ever heard on earth.” (Amie B.)
“I saw my body lying there as if asleep. I was carried as if my angels, though I did not see them, far up into the heavens and at a great speed. I was taken to a place surrounded by music. It was like no music I have ever heard. More beautiful than all the best music my ears have heard and it came from everywhere.” (Sybil S.)
“I saw complete darkness with a hint of light in the center, as though it were shining through a pin hole. I focused on the light to see what it was when I started to hear music… The music I cannot describe and never have been able to. It was calming, nothing like I’ve ever heard anywhere before or since but yet it felt familiar to me, like I should know the tune; no voices to the music, it had no real rhythm either, it just existed.” (Kathy R.)
“I contemplate the softness of this light and hear a wonderful music that makes me perfectly happy, a kind of music that is so beautiful that it cannot exist on earth.” (Julia M.)
“I literally came out of my physical body! The sound of that music I cannot possibly describe with words because it simply cannot be heard with that clarity in this world! It was breath taking! It was so beautiful. I was ready to explode from joy!” (Jesse N.)
“A light formed as the finest confetti, and every piece of the confetti is light, love, the most peaceful loving music I have ever heard, and everything that is good. All this came down through me.” (Maria S.)
“There was music, but not in the way I know music. The only way to describe it was the beat vibration of a higher a muted hum that resonated. I came to know that there are many different vibrations of afterlife. All are ‘good’ just different depending on how you lived your earth life.” (Michele)
“I could hear was an incredible ‘unearthly’ singing. The music was so phenomenally beautiful that I could not reproduce it. I do not consider myself a culturally ignorant individual but this was nothing like any music I had ever heard. It was not as one might imagine as ‘heavenly’ or ‘choral’. Instead, it was beyond adequate description. Glorious beyond merit, the sound was celebratory and powerful. I couldn’t make out was being said, not the language within it was projected.” (Sarah A.)
“I could see all the energy that this solar system generates, and it is an incredible light show! I could hear the Music of the Spheres. Our solar system, as do all celestial bodies, generates a unique matrix of light, sound and vibratory energies. Advanced civilizations from other star systems can spot life as we know it in the universe by the vibratory or energy matrix imprint. It is child’s play. The earth’s Wonder Child (human beings) make an abundance of sound right now, like children playing in the backyard of the universe.” (Mellen-Thomas Benedict)
“When we first arrived in the Seventh Region we were certain that we had reached our eternal home. So in tune were we with it that there was not even a hint of internal conflict. We could not conceive of any higher order of life than here, from where we were certain the Music of the Spheres originated. Gradually we learn that there are higher realms of life, and we are in yet another stage of growth.” (Harvey Green)
“Turning back to the interior of the temple, I saw that creative activities were taking place in different areas. There were a number of individuals sitting at easels painting, and I saw one man playing a flutelike instrument that emitted the sweetest of sounds. Farther on, dancers moved with ethereal grace, performing with a lightness impossible to the physical human form. As I watched in utter delight, I became aware that the musical background for this visual feast came from what I would call a celestial choir – an orchestra of voices creating heavenly music for the dance. This Music of the Spheres was indeed singing the praises of the Creator.” (Jan Price)
“As I was floating through this tube, I could hear snippets of conversations from my past. On exiting the tube, I was surrounded by the most wonderful music – similar to panpipes (pan flutes). This music was everywhere and the feeling was so peaceful and pain-free. I asked, ‘Where am I?’ and was told ‘The Halls of Music.'” (Edna)
“There was a growing sound, a wind like sound, which swelled into music like I had never heard. It wasn’t exactly organ music, but like something created by synthesizer, a blend of water and wind and flutes, swelling and surrounding me and causing me to weep with emotions stronger than I had ever before felt.” (Martine)
“Everyone has within them a unique ‘celestial song’ – an inner melody wanting to burst forth. The inner vibration within us connects us to the deep, modulating, harmonious music of the ‘celestial orchestra.’ This cosmic orchestra is the collective energy of everything that’s ever lived and everything that’s ever going to live. It is the life force. It is the power of the universe. It is ecstatically happy. The culmination of this energy is love. Love abounds with its feelings of ecstasy and deep bliss. It is the love holding every atom, every sparrow, every galaxy, everything together. Everyone has forever been a part of this life force and always will. We are already familiar with this at a deep level. We know it. The problem is we bury it under so much apprehension and worry. Don’t worry. Be happy and feel good. There are an infinite number of levels of existence and each level adds to the hum of the cosmic orchestra. It’s as if we’re always spiraling upward until we reach a state of atomic bliss. Life continues. The show goes on in ever varied and unfolding settings.” (Larry Hagman)
“This time we were audience to a choir of angels singing. Angels were totally outside my reality at the time, yet somehow I knew these beautiful beings to be angelic. They sang the most lovely and extraordinary music I had ever heard. They were identical, each equally beautiful.” (Dr. Allan Kellehear)
Dr. Diane Komp, a pediatric oncologist at Yale, was transformed by witnessing children’s’ NDEs, such as that of an 8-year-old with cancer envisioning a school bus driven by Jesus, a 7-year-old leukemia patient hearing a chorus of angels before passing away. “I was an atheist, and it changed my view of spiritual matters,” recalls Komp. “Call it a conversion. I came away convinced that these are real spiritual experiences.” (Dr. Diane Komp)
“The music, almost celestial or angelic, sounded in the distance, but I was hearing it perfectly; it was beautiful… I was only seeing light, and hearing this beautiful music.” (Mariana H.)
“I am still utterly amazed at what I find here. Utterly amazed! There is love and there is harmony. There is music that transcends all thought. Then I became conscious of different sounds of bells ringing and music. I realized that I had been hearing these bells and music while I was out in space. In the midst of this sound I became aware of the fact that at the present time I may see and I may observe, but my consciousness will have to expand further before I may know how all of this takes place, and why.” (Margaret Tweddell)
“I heard what seemed like millions of little golden bells ringing, tinkling; they rang and rang. Many times since, I’ve heard those bells in the middle of the night. Next I heard humming and then a choir singing. The singing got louder and louder, and it was in a minor key. It was beautiful and in perfect harmony. I also heard stringed instruments.” (Lorraine Tutmarc)
Vicki Umipeg also began to hear sublimely beautiful and exquisitely harmonious music akin to the sound of wind chimes. With scarcely a noticeable transition, she then discovered she had been sucked head first into a tube and felt that she was being pulled up into it. The enclosure itself was dark, Vicki said, yet she was aware that she was moving toward light. As she reached the opening of the tube, the music that she had heard earlier seemed to be transformed into hymns and she then “rolled out” to find herself lying on grass. (Vicki Umipeg)
“All I can remember is music that was kind of in the background that was almost like notes within notes. The song that reminds me of it the most is ‘The Carol of the Bells.’ (Bella K.)
“I also heard music different music. It was usually like classical music; I like classical music. It wasn’t exactly the music I’ve heard, but it was along that line. It made me relaxed. The fears went away when I listened to it. Again, the feeling of hope, that there’s something better somewhere else (He then became aware of a voice). I think [it was] a woman’s voice, but I didn’t recognize the voice. I just remember that it was a soothing voice. I kind of remember that with the grayness her voice kind of calling, my moving toward it.” (Dr. Kenneth Ring research)
“I heard beautiful music that resembled classical music. I remember (like it happened yesterday) the feeling I had: peaceful, quiet, without worries.” (Granit N.)
“And the whole garden was singing. The flowers, grass, trees, and other plants filled this place with glorious tones and rhythms and melodies; yet I didn’t hear the music itself. I could feel it somehow on a level beyond my hearing. As my grandmother and I stopped a moment to marvel at the magnificent scene, I said to myself, “Everything here seems to be singing,” which was woefully inadequate to describe what I felt. We simply don’t have language that adequately communicates the beauty of that world.” (RaNelle Wallace)
“Below me, there was a beautiful garden with flowers of every color and a stream running through it. I heard gorgeous music that was so soothing it was like being rocked and cared for like I was a little child again. God was with me.” (Sharon B.)
“I then became aware of beautiful music coming from everywhere; rocks, trees, grass, etc. were all praising God.” (Michael L.)
“In the bardo of becoming, as well as many other kinds of visions, the mental body will see visions and signs of different realms. A small percentage of those who have survived a near-death experience report visions of inner worlds, paradises, and cities of light with transcendental music.” (Lingza Chokyi)
“These cities of light are said by NDErs to represent an entire world, made of light and love, radiate with multi-colored lights, with transcendental music, filled with light beings, made of glass, built of the purest light, multi-dimensional, built by God, whose light of the city is God, the city of God, resembling the New Jerusalem, the heavenly city in the Book of Revelation.” (Kevin Williams)
“I’m now looking at my body from above, there is also music – sounds like thousands of bright voices singing in harmony – I just want to be here forever!” (Timothy N.)
“At that moment, we were in this place of beautiful warm light and millions and millions of people all saying, ‘The time is near. Be ready for the day.’ It was like a loud roar, but very loving the way it was said and the music was like nothing I have ever heard to this day; it went right through you and you were the music as well.” (William E.)
“I could hear what I can only describe as a combination of music and singing, it was the most beautiful music that I have ever heard. It seemed as if I had complete knowledge of the universe. I can’t even explain how wonderful I felt, words can do no justice to that feeling.” (John D.)
“As we walked toward it, I heard voices. They were melodious, harmonious, blending in chorus and I heard the word, ‘Jesus.’ There were more than four parts to their harmony. I not only heard the singing and felt the singing but I joined the singing. I have always had a girl’s body, but a low boy’s voice. Suddenly I realized I was singing the way I had always wanted to … in high, clear and sweet tones. After a while the music softened, then the unseen voices picked up a new chorus. The voices not only burst forth in more than four parts, but they were in different languages. I was awed by the richness and perfect blending of the words – and I could understand them! I do not know why this was possible except that I was part of a universal experience. The words sung in all the different languages were understandable, but I don’t know how or why. We all seemed to be on some universal wave length. I thought at the time, “I will never forget the melody and these words. But later I could only recall two: Jesus and redeemed.” (Betty Malz)
“At the time I felt the presence of that extreme love I could also hear beautiful music. I’m not sure if it was instrumental music, but somehow I think it was more massed voices giving that sound. But there were no words – it was more just a resonance of sound.” (Janet)
“Just when I thought to speak, to question, the being spoke to me. It’s voice was as a chorus of voices, not male not female, not loud not soft, not deep but perfect and all encompassing.” (Lou Famoso)
“Facing all the splendor made me acutely aware of my lowly condition. My response was, ‘No, you’ve made a mistake, put me back.’ And he [Jesus] said: ‘We don’t make mistakes. You belong.’ Then he called out in a musical tone to the luminous entities who surrounded the great center. Several came and circled around us.” (Howard Storm)
“I kept pulling up and up and up to a point where I could observe the whole earth. This was wonderful! The earth was alive and the earth was singing. It was a singing a single song and in that song everyone had a voice… It was a song of love and every living being had something to add to the song of earth.” (Reinee Pasarow)
“I saw and heard wondrous things, most of which I can’t describe but it seemed that there was a rhythm to everything with incredible music ever present. Everything in my life included long forgotten details made sense. In fact, everything made perfect sense.” (Sam P.)
“I was rescued by a slowly spinning clear white light associated with a musical melody, that served as a portal up into rich and ultrareal realms.” (Eben Alexander III, M.Ð.)
“Traveling through the tunnel, normal cities and towns can be seen on the sides of the tunnel. As you travel further, you become conscious of sounds, at first indistinct rumblings, then music, laughter, and singing of birds. There is more and more light, the colors become very beautiful, and there is the sound of wonderful music. The houses are left behind; ahead there is only a blending of sound and color.” (Edgar Cayce)
